In what is a very tone-deaf statement, Sparta Prague have gone on the offensive against the backlash for the targetting of Glen Kamara last night, by praising the “wonderful and unique” atmosphere created by the local children it attendance at the Generali Arena last night.
It was certainly unique…
Following on from the incidents against Slavia Prague last season when Kamara was racially abused by Ondrej Kudela, his every touch was jeered in last night’s Europa League Group A match as were Rangers other black players, throughout the game.
Sparta have dropped a statement earlier today which frames the children and Czech people overall as the victims. It really is a strange approach that deserves a proper, appropriate punishment from UEFA but will anything be done?
Stop abusing our children! / Zastavte urážení našich dětí!
📰 ACS statement on the match against Rangers in the UEFA Europa League. / Vyjádření ACS k utkání s Rangers v Evropské lize.
➡️ https://t.co/TsTcUkOpFG pic.twitter.com/vHv0Zqa3xd
— AC Sparta Prague (@ACSparta_EN) October 1, 2021
The statement includes:
“Stop attacking our children! Our club will proudly defend children, our future and our pride. Finger pointing at children in the online space is extremely cowardly.”
“We observe unprecedented xenophobic expressions against the Czech Republic, its citizens and even its children in the environment of social networks and in the media space.”
“You describe children’s behavior incorrectly, you appropriate the right to evaluate the expression of emotions of six-year-old children who have no idea what racism is. It’s audacity.”
Reality
Unfortunately, the statement does not explain the situation of why 10,000 children were in attendance in the first place, not why Glen Kamara was singled out and jeered through the game.
The last sentence above is correct in that young children do not know what racism is, perhaps they have been influenced by adults to target black opposition players?
This is another sorry mess and Sparta have simpy doubled down on the nonsense and wilful ignorance that Slavia displayed last season. Make no mistake about it, this is a blight on the Czech nation and it’s people.
Their sense of victimhood is seriously misguided and it is time that racism was properly dealt with, by UEFA.