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‘Did not apologise’: Slavia keeper calls out Rangers player over Ibrox injury fallout

Adam Miller

Wed 14 April 2021 12:15, UK

Slavia Prague keeper Ondřej Kolář has taken aim at Rangers striker Kemar Roofe over his failure to apologise for the incident that left him with a fractured skull.

Like fellow Czech keeper Petr Cech during the latter days of his career, Kolář will be forced to don a made-to-measure head guard for the remainder of his playing days.

The 26-year-old was badly injured after Roofe’s studs caught him in the face, with the Englishman being sent off as a result.

He’s since returned to the Slavia lineup, and was in goal for their 1-1 Europa League quarter-final draw against Arsenal at the Emirates last week.

Kolář has been unimpressed with Roofe’s failure to apologise for injuring him, and has spoken of his frustration in the build-up to Thursday’s second leg against Arsenal.

Speaking to Czech outlet , Kolář said: “He (Roofe) said he was first to the ball, but he didn’t add that he kicked it out of my hand, collided with my leg and hit me on the head.

“He saw me the whole time.

“Anyone who has ever kicked a ball knows that the foot can always be pulled down. It’s a game of football, it shouldn’t be about my health.

“If I ever met him again I’d say nothing. I’d wait for him to see if he apologised and asked about my health.

“I waited for Roofe to write me a message on Instagram for example. Instead, I read hate messages from Rangers fans, ‘he should have kicked your head in’…’he should have broken your spine.’

“I know things aren’t good between Slavia and Rangers right now, but that?

“I was disappointed that Roofe did not apologise through the media. I’m not vindictive, I don’t need him to give me something back, but he should think more because maybe the next time, he could ruin someone’s life.”

Slavia Prague went through 3-1 on aggregate after beating Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox.