Young Sparta fans boo Rangers' Kamara in Europa League

Posted September 30, 2021 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Rangers' Glen Kamara, right, fouls Sparta's Michal Sacek to get a second yellow card during the Europa League Group A soccer match between Sparta Prague and Rangers in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The Associated Press

PRAGUE (AP) - Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara was repeatedly booed by the thousands of young Sparta Prague supporters who were in attendance for Thursday's Europa League game between the clubs.

Normal fans were banned at Sparta's stadium for the Czech club's 1-0 victory because of previous racist behavior, but UEFA allowed the host to have the support of some 10,000 schoolchildren aged 6-14.

The booing of Kamara came after Ondrej Kudela from Sparta's archrival, Slavia Prague, received a 10-match ban from UEFA for racially abusing the Finnish player in a knockout game in the Europa League last season.

Kamara was sent off Thursday after picking up his second yellow in the second half.

The ban from all UEFA competitions prevented the 34-year-old Kudela, who was a starter for the Czech Republic, from playing at this year's European Championship.

Sparta was ordered by UEFA to play a game without fans due to racist abuse of a player during a Champions League qualifier at home to Monaco on Aug 3.

A group of fans directed monkey chants at Monaco midfielder AurÃ©lien TchouamÃ©ni after he scored the opening goal in the first half, and again when the game was over.

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Children fans cheer during the Europa League Group A soccer match between Sparta Prague and Rangers in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The Associated Press

Kids watch the Europa League Group A soccer match between Sparta Prague and Rangers in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The Associated Press

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