Swastika in the lawn: The next “disgrace for Croatia” – derStandard.at

After “Ghost Game” in Split threaten the Croatian Football Federation for a branded on the grass swastika again consequences. The police reportedly after the European Championship qualifier against Italy investigations on and secured pieces of the court as evidence.

Under the floodlights of the Poljud stadium a swastika on the lawn was, according to officials on Friday recognizable. “This is sabotage, a criminal act. That’s a shame for the whole of Croatia, and we condemn it,” said an association spokesman.

had the game against Italy already have taken place behind closed doors. The European Football Union (UEFA) had punished the Croats because of racist attacks of their fans in the game against Norway.

A lot of money for a lot of shame

Croatia President Kolinda Grabar -Kitarovic has condemned the incident and afterwards, as well as the football administrators strive day to limit the damage.

Croatia had the best and most loyal fans, but also a “very serious problem with hooligans, not only the denigrate Croatian football, but also the Croatian state “, said Grabar-Kitarovic on Saturday in a statement. The President regretted the “untold damage to the reputation of our citizens and our country in the world” and called for rapid clarification.

Davor Suker, the head of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), reacted in dismay. “I am sad and angry,” he said on Saturday at a short press conference scheduled in Split. The former world-class striker called for a “thorough investigation” and called once more on to punish those responsible.

There is hardly an international match of Southeast Europeans goes by without there being right-wing or racist incidents. Before the World Cup in Brazil Josip Simunic had after the successful qualification for the title fights in Brazil over the stadium microphone the slogan “Za Dom – Spremni” called. He was the World Association (FIFA) banned for ten matches. The controversial Ustasha greeting translates as: “For the homeland – ready!” The Ustasha was established in 1929 secret society, which evolved into a fascist movement.

culprits scot

Zoran Cyrk, the security officer of the association, however, has the Government criticized his home country. “Three times the UEFA wrote letters to the Croatian government and nothing was done,” Cyrk said.

It was informed shortly before the game about the Nazi symbol on the grass and had tried in vain, the make them disappear swastika in halftime, explained the head of security. The match against Italy (1: 1) on Friday night had to take place behind closed doors. UEFA had punished the Croatians for racist attacks of their fans in the game against Norway. Previously, it had come in the first leg in Milan riots.

Not a single hooligan was penalized after the events in Milan, complained Cyrk. Instead, the Croatian Football Federation, Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split and HNK Rijeka had in the past seven years have to pay a total of 2.3 million euro fines for hooligan offenses. (APA, 13.6.2015)