Croatian fans accused of racism
By Mihir Bose
(Filed: 22/06/2004)
The Football Association have alerted UEFA to evidence of racism by Croatian supporters during their Group B match against France last week. This involved having banners featuring the Celtic cross, a symbol of European neo-Nazi organisations, monkey chants directed at Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord, and shouts of "go back to Africa" at other France players.
The FA were approached with this evidence by Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE). William Gaillard, head of media at UEFA, said: "We had an informal approach by the FA. Then we received evidence from FARE. This is the only incident we have so far and the control and disciplinary panel will be considering it. If we get more evidence of this then we shall be asking the Croatian FA for an explanation.
"In the under-21 championships in Germany, some Croatian supporters burnt a Serbia-Montenegro flag and the Croatians were fined. We shall not tolerate this. We see racism as a plague which has to be eradicated."
One of the problems for UEFA was the chanting was in the Serbo-Croat language, which was not understood by the Portuguese match stewards. However, FARE, a Vienna-based organisation more familiar with Balkan languages, picked up the chants.
UEFA closely monitored England's match last night for any racist behaviour by Croatian supporters.
Meanwhile, UEFA have provisionally suspended Switzerland striker Alexander Frei for 15 days for spitting. Frei was initially charged on the basis of video evidence of an incident involving him and England midfielder Steven Gerrard.
UEFA's disciplinary body decided the evidence was not conclusive, only for their own appeals body to lodge a challenge yesterday after further video footage which appeared to show Frei spitting came to light. The Swiss football association, in agreement with the player, withdrew him from last night's match against France.
A UEFA official told Swiss television that UEFA wanted the 24-year-old to be banned for five games because "in the first instance, a completely true version of events was not presented by the Swiss side".
The World Anti-Doping Agency have said they are satisfied with the handling of the doping case involving Croatia striker Ivica Olic and will not pursue further sanctions.
Olic tested positive for methylpresnisolone after the Group B match against France, but was cleared to play against England last night.
UEFA's control and disciplinary committee decided Olic had not done anything wrong, fining the Croatian federation 6,600 euros for failing to comply with doping procedures.
Olic suffered a rib injury during a warm-up game on June 5 and was given a pain-killing drug, which contained methylpresnisolone.
