By Mark Baber
April 9 – The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has hit back at those using football to spread their message of racial hatred with an order that Croatia’s upcoming game against Italy must be played behind closed doors.
The CEDB announced the decision on Wednesday “in relation to various incidents that occurred during the European Qualifiers Group H match between Croatia and Norway, which was played in Zagreb on 28 March.”
The announcement cites “Racist behaviour of supporters” contrary to Article 14 of UEFA Disciplinary Regulations as well as “Setting off/throwing of missiles and fireworks” contrary to Article 16.
The CEDB has ordered the Croatian Football Association to play its next UEFA competition match as host association behind closed doors (against Italy on June 12). The Croatian Football Association has also been fined €50,000. The association has also been fined a further €5,000 for the setting off of fireworks.
This latest decision follows a long campaign by militant Croatian nationalists to use football as a medium to rehabilitate and normalise fascist symbols and racist slogans from the National Socialist era, including the slogan “Za Dom Spremni,” (literally “For the Homeland, ready”), a chant which also recently earned Croatian national team player Josip Simunic a 10-match international ban and which is often uttered in conjunction with the fascist salute.
With Croatian football crowds very heavily infiltrated by Nazi supporters, it is highly unlikely a stadium ban will have any real deterrent value.
The Head of the Croatian Football Federation, Davor Suker, has himself been photographed paying his respects at the grave of Ustase (Croatian fascist) leader and war criminal, Ante Pavelic, who committed genocide against Serbs, Roma and Jews and in regards to the Simunic ban, Suker also stated: “Josip gave an important contribution to our path to Brazil and the team will certainly play for him at the championship.” A sentiment which makes his recent election to UEFA’s Executive Committee all the more troubling.
Croatia currently lead Group H with 13 points, followed by Italy on 11 and Norway 9.
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