July 24 – Croatia have been let off the hook and avoided being thrown out of Euro 2016 qualifying for racial discrimination, much to the relief of the entire country after the prime minister personally pleaded with UEFA president Michel Platini to show leniency.
Instead they have been a deducted a point as punishment for painting a swastika on the pitch before the 1-1 draw with Italy last month – and been ordered to play two matches behind closed doors (and none at the Stadion Poljud in Split) as well as being fined €100,000.
Although Croatia thus stay top of Group H with 13 points from six games, one more than second-placed Italy, UEFA’s sanctions suggest any more trouble will result in the ultimate penalty given repeated instances of racism by Croatian fans.
The Swastika had been emblazoned on the pitch with a chemical substance before a match that was itself behind closed doors as punishment for racist chanting during the 5-1 home win over Norway in Zagreb in March.
Prime minister Zoran Milanovic had appealed to Platini expressing his concern “over the fate of the Croatia squad from disciplinary proceedings which resulted from a ‘sad incident.'” He said throwing Croatia out would “destroy the squad, leave a deep scar on Croatia’s fans and harm football in Croatia in the long term.”
It seems to have had the desired effect and federation vice-president Ante Kulusic expressed his country’s relief by stating: “This is the verdict we had hoped for although we feared expulsion. We have been let off the hook today but if anything like this happens again, no one will able to save us.
“The UEFA decision shows that these individuals who tried to destroy Croatia with their henious act have failed. Croatia will qualify for Euro 2016 while these hooligans must look at their lives.”
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