Slavia Prague chief shares image of Kudela with bloodied nose as he misses Europa League clash v Arsenal
While Slavia Prague play Arsenal in London on Thursday night, Ondrej Kudela is in a hospital in the Czech Republic recovering from a “hematoma puncture”.
Kudela found his face on the end of Gareth Bale’s flailing elbow in the last international break after the Czech Republic defender was alleged to have racially abused Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
Earlier this week, UEFA confirmed Kudela would serve a provisional one-match ban for Slavia after the alleged racist incident at Ibrox last month.
However, Slavia have said Kudela would not have returned to the UK for the match against Arsenal due to an injury he suffered when Bale’s elbow connected with his face when the Czech Republic lost to Wales in World Cup qualifying.
On Thursday, Slavia chairman Jaroslav Tvridik took to Twitter to share an image of Kudela and his bloodied nose as he recovers while the Czech side takes on Arsenal in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Tvrdik said: “[Squad] at Arsenal, Ondrej at the Central Military Hospital on a hematoma puncture. Unsportsmanlike conduct in one match was to be avoided, but it is the first similar mistake in 16 years of professional career. We are all just people. She is us and today we play for her as well. Good health as soon as possible, Kudela!”
What a shame
We don’t want to start talking about conspiracies and cover-ups (although Slavia Prague have done that themselves already by accusing Rangers of it) but it’s all very convenient that Kudela wasn’t going to play against Arsenal on Thursday.
He wasn’t going to go to Wales with the Czech squad last month out of fear for his safety but ended up going anyway.
While Bale’s elbow did connect with Kudela’s face, it wasn’t the hardest of contacts.
We’re not going to question whether this is all fake or not but Slavia have done so much to try and dust this under the carpet that we wouldn’t put it past them, in all honesty.
Kudela would not have had to travel to England on Thursday anyway due to the provisional ban placed on him by UEFA. But why did he not travel to speak to Police Scotland and show them he’s innocent?
Slavia and Kudela have all maintained Kudela’s innocence since all of this began so if he really is innocent, why not go to London, answer some questions and then return to Prague?
In other Rangers news, Kamara’s lawyer has shared an update on Kudela’s defence.