Rangers announced a glamour friendly against West Ham United at Ibrox as part of their pre-season plans.
But it might be a bit frosty for one of the Hammers stars after comments he made 12 months ago. Tomas Soucek was one of the Premier League stars name checked on the Ibrox side’s website as they talked up the quality of David Moyes’ side. It read: “The likes of Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen, Saïd Benrahma and Tomas Soucek are just some of the names in their squad who could be taking to the field at Ibrox.”
However, the Czech Republic star wasn’t so popular with Rangers fans following his backing of shamed countryman Ondrej Kudela after his race row involving Glen Kamara in Slavia Prague’s ugly Europa League clash at Ibrox Stadium. Kudela was banned by UEFA for 10 games after allegedly calling Kamara a ‘monkey’ but escaped escape prosecution over the controversial incident.
And following the friendly announcement, quotes from Soucek backing Kudela have resurfaced.
Speaking ahead of Euro 2020 last summer when the Czech Republic were due to play at Hampden, the Hammers ace said: “At West Ham, everyone asked me about it and why he said it (to Kamara).
"And I fought for Ondrej all the time. I believe that he did not tell him anything racist, no-one proved anything about him.
"Yet a lot of people in the UK condemned him and he received a heavy sentence of 10 matches from UEFA. I found it absurd. I know him so well that I can't imagine him saying anything racist.
"I see how sensitive the British are to racism every day. Two cultures collide because we think a little differently than they do.
"Of course, it's right they want to fight racism, but sometimes they go to such extremes that, in my opinion, it's counterproductive.
"It's hard for me to understand and I tell myself that when they go looking for racism in everything they can never get rid of it completely. On the contrary, they are harming themselves.
"Slowly, one is afraid to say anything so as not to offend or slander someone. And I think that's wrong."
Soucek was desperate to face Rangers last season in the Europa League as the British sides progressed through the rounds.
He said: “I’ve thought about a few teams I would like to play against, and if I could say one, it would be Rangers because I want to play against them as a big rival.”
