Sparta Prague David Pavelka has said his side will have a ‘hate’ atmosphere in Ibrox for the Europa League showdown this week.
Rangers face the Czechs in new manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s opener, with the unsavory fallout from the previous September clash lingering.
UEFA initially ordered the Sparta Prague pitch closed due to previous racist abuse, but they withered and allowed 10,000 children to enter the stadium.
However, Rangers were outraged when Glen Kamara – who was the subject of disgusting racist abuse by Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela last season who saw him given a ten-game suspension from the ‘UEFA – was booed all night long by the kids.
The dispute even reached diplomatic circles and Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek even summoned the UK’s ambassador to his country, Nick Archer, to discuss the escalation of the dispute.
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European football’s governing body dropped its investigation into the incident after concluding that there was “insufficient evidence”.
And last season, Slavia Prague’s 2-0 win at Ibrox turned into one of the most explosive matches on Scottish soil, after Slavia goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar fractured his skull as a result of a challenge from Kemar Roofe and punches in the tunnel until an hour after the final whistle.
Sparta’s preparations for the draw were disastrous after being beaten 4-0 by FC Slovacko in their last game before traveling to Scotland.
And 30-year-old Czech international midfielder Pavelka doesn’t expect a warm welcome in Glasgow, but remains convinced that they can achieve victory.
He said: “We will go to Glasgow and we all know what to expect there. The atmosphere in the stadium will be terrible. It will be an interesting experience.
“We just hope nothing happens to us when we’re there.
“Look, if we do manage to win at Ibrox we are sure to qualify. We have nothing to fear.
“It’s in our hands and we are confident of securing second place in the group.
“I accept that Lyon are the best team in the group. There is a notable difference between them and the rest of the teams in the section.
“For us in Glasgow it’s important that we ignore what might be going on off the pitch and focus on what we need to do to get out of it.”
