November 18 – Croatian football authorities, seemingly at the end of their patience over the hooligan reputation of their fans, have called on the country’s entire society to help eradicate the problem following last weekend’s flare-throwing incident that caused a Euro 2016 qualifier in Italy to be briefly suspended.
Visiting fans twice halted play, tossing flares on to the San Siro pitch and later clashing with the police. Croatian media reported that 17 fans were arrested.
“These hooligans have shocked soccer-loving Europe and deserve nothing but condemnation of the entire society. We call upon the Croatian judiciary to process all those who took part in the incident,” the Croatian FA said in a statement.
“We also urge the other segments of the Croatian society, starting with the government, to see those incidents as the last straw, which will prompt all those in power to an energetic and decisive action,” it said.
Croatian fans have a history of unruly behaviour and the statement added: “Such incidents are obviously the result of the failure to act earlier. They are a shame for the Croatian state and have resulted in unforeseeable consequences for Croatian soccer and the national team.”
Italy coach Antonio Conte said he had feared the match would be abandoned altogether and his Croatia opposite number Niko Kovac said he expects UEFA to clamp down hard on the joint group leaders after the 1-1 draw in Milan .
“Of course Croatia will face sanctions, but there is no reason for any point deductions,” said Kovac who nevertheless acknowledged the damaging effect of the disturbances.
“I apologise to everyone, especially the Italians, for our supporters’ behaviour. I was disappointed and helpless, there are no right words for this. If someone has a problem, he has to deal with it outside the stadium.
“This is not the real image of Croatia, Croatians are honest people that respect other nations, while this kind of behaviour leads nowhere.”
Some reports suggest the conduct was a deliberate though misplaced reaction to what many fans believe is a bullying and double standards policy by the Croatian federation and certain clubs, with harsh punishments meted out for relatively minor offences while those running the game are getting away with corrupt practices.
But that is unlikely to wash with UEFA. Banners were seen in the Croatian section of the crowd incorporating the stylised letter ‘U’ – a symbol of the Ustase, Croatia’s fascist movement from the second world war, responsible for mass killings of Serbs, Jews, Roma and Croatian anti-fascists in concentration camps and elsewhere.
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