July 9 – Croatia’s prime minister has issued a strongly worded personal plea to UEFA president Michel Platini urging Europe’s governing body not to expel the national team after a swastika was scrawled on the pitch during last month’s European Championship qualifier against Italy.
Croatian fans have repeatedly been guilty of racism, drawing stern rebukes from the authorities, and amid fears UEFA are losing their patience Zoran Milanovic has written to Platini expressing his concern “over the fate of the Croatia squad from disciplinary proceedings which resulted from a ‘sad incident.'”
UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings for racism against the Croatian federation over the incident that occurred at 1-1 draw with Italy on June 12. A verdict is due on July 16 and Croatia fears an international ban. The team leads qualifying Group H ahead of Italy.
“I appeal you not to let the Euro 2016 go ahead without the participation of all the best squads,” said Milanovic who insisted police were close to finding the culprits. He said throwing Croatia out would be a “draconian sanction” that would “destroy the squad, leave a deep scar on Croatia’s fans and harm football in Croatia in the long term.”
According to media reports the swastika was first brought to the attention of UEFA by Italian FA officials around the time the game began. It continued with groundsmen attempting, but failing, to remove the markings at half-time. UEFA had already ordered the Croatia-Italy match to be played behind closed doors as a punishment for fan violence and racist incidents during an earlier match against Norway.
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