Former Hearts goalkeeper Bobby Zlamal was FINED for his stance on Ondrej Kudela by Hearts after his compatriot was banned for racially abusing Rangers star Glen Kamara.
Kudela earned a minimum 10-match suspension after UEFA ruled the Slavia Prague defender used discriminatory language against the Finland international during the sides' Europa League clash back in March.
Zlamal, however, defended Kudela to his team-mates and wound up in arguments as a result.
The shot-stopper - who was loaned out to St Mirren and St Johnstone last term and is now retired - would later go on to insist Rangers used the despicable incident to 'cover up their shortcomings' in the press back home.
And he's now told a Czech TV show during a preview for the match between Steven Gerrard's champions and Slavia's city rivals Sparta that his team-mates were enraged when he spoke out in Kudela's defence.
He said: "I left Scotland three months ago and it was still being discussed.
"I was asked for my honest opinion, gave it and I got fined for it. Very unfair.
"All I said was that there was no proof and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty should be honoured. The club pushed me to apologise, but I didn't do it because I didn't know what I should apologise for.
"My problem was that in Scotland, they automatically presumed Ondrej was guilty. But there was no real proof.
"I also had major problems with some players in the dressing room. I stood my ground though. We had an big exchange of views.
"It was exaggerated everywhere. Even now, we see Glen Kamara's lawyer come up with crazy stuff and that creates more hatred.
"The Sparta match against Rangers will go ahead with no problems."
