This past weekend’s Euro 2016 qualifier in the city of Split between Croatia and Italy ended in a 1-1 draw, but the real news came before the first whistle was blown.
An image of a swastika burnt into a portion of the pitch was discovered by ground staff and could be seen during the game’s telecast.
How that was able to occur without the apparent knowledge of the ground staff is almost laughable, but it could spell bad news for the Croatian Football Federation. The game against Italy was already being played behind closed doors due to racist chanting by fans during a March fixture with Norway.
The president of the Croatian Football Federation, the HNS, Davor Suker, admitted this type of behaviour is a problem his organisation is trying to deal with, but European football’s governing body must act swiftly to send a message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.
Whereas trouble in a Euro 2016 qualifier in October between Serbia and Albania arose from simmering ethnic tension over the disputed Kosovo territory, the issues with Croatian fan trouble appears to be based on the actions of ‘ultras’, ultra fanatical supporters trying to spread their brand of fascist anarchy.
Violence and the use of flares by a section of Croatian fans in the November fixture against Italy in Milan, followed by the aforementioned racist chanting against Norway and now this incident have kept a small minority of disruptive fans in the news.
While the use of a swastika may appear as a symbol used to invoke fear and hatred, it could also be seen as a show of misguided solidarity from Croatian ultras to notorious Italian ultras like those that make up a portion of Lazio’s fan-base. The connection goes even deeper to World War II when Croatian Ustase and Italian forces made up part of the Axis powers.
Both UEFA and local police have been called on by Croatian press officer Tomislav Pacak to investigate the ugly incident and focus must be placed on officials and ground staff at the Poljud Stadium in Split. It has been reported that the symbol was burnt into the pitch via a chemical agent between 24 to 48 hours prior to kick-off with it apparently timed to be visible for the match’s broadcast.
Questions must be asked as to how someone was able to gain their way onto the ground of an important upcoming European Championship qualifier, or why those with access to the ground would knowingly allow such an offence to be committed.
Fan trouble with flaring racial, fascist and ethnic tensions have been prevalent in the Balkans and southern and eastern European regions in the last few qualifying campaigns and it is time for football authorities to put their collective foot down to stamp it out.
While sanctions such as taking points from Croatia’s qualifying tally may seem to be the next logical step, it is an unfortunate one as it punishes the Croatian players and vast majority of their fans who want to attend matches peacefully and cheer on their talented countrymen such as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.
The HNS must work closely with fans, UEFA, and Croatian law enforcement to identify and punish those responsible, those who care not for their country’s success on the sporting field, but would rather make a notorious name for themselves.
This cooperation is one all footballing bodies must take as only through joint policing can such behaviour be eradicated.
Together we say, no more.
Josh
Guest
You might want to google Ivan Bogdanovic to see how much work this part of the world has on its hands.
MelbCro
Guest
This article just annoys because it shows a clear lack of understanding of what is happening in Croatia at the moment. The swastika was put there for the sole purpose of getting Croatia kicked out of the Eros, it wasn't a far right political statement. There are two possible culprits. Firstly it is Croatian ultras who have actively been trying to get at the national federation the HNS due to their corruption and the influence of Dinamo Zagreb president Zdravko Mamic, they have publicly stated they want to sabotage the HNS and get them kicked of the Euros to stop financial windfall that would come from qualification in order to force a change at the top. Second option is that it was done by left wing elements in Croatia. People from outside of Croatia simply do not understand how fragmented Croatia in between left and right. The Croatian national team is seen as a symbol of Croatian independence and nationalism, and is a real thorn in the side of the left and Yugoslav nostalgics in Croatia. So its very much in their interests to sabotage Croatian football and Croatia's image in general in order to fuel their narrative of fascists being on the loose.
MelbCro
Guest
Za dom spremni has been used as far back as the 16th century when Nikola Zrinksi fought the Ottomans. You know the Ustasa wore trousers, maybe we should ban those as well just to be fair. Ridiculous.
cm
Guest
Headline changed. Thanks roar people. Little words make a difference.
Fadida
Guest
Agree. Nothing to do with football. Next football will be blamed for The Balkans genocide in the 90's. Football is played in every country in the world. In many of those countries there is civil unrest, violence, racism etc. Many of the perpetrators also go to football coincidently. If AFL, rugby codes were popular outside one/a few countries there'd be issues at games, unrelated to the game itself. Racists dont make monkey chants at black players because they are footballers. It's because they are black and themselves racist.
144
Roar Guru
Look i don't understand why all these countries all these teams all these players stir up trouble like this for no reason. Actually there probably is a reason behind it. But a swastika, really? No way in this day and age is anyone getting away with that It's like that footballer who was suspended from football because he did a hell hitler hand gesture Football has its dark moments but it has a lot more happier moments
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Hear hear! Well said.
AR
Guest
Interesting article, cheers. Of course, the *reason* for the behaviour is irrelevant in my opinion - whether it's designed to embarrass the CFF, intimidate the opposition, promote racist or fascist ideology with slogans and banners - it's just illegal and bigoted mob behaviour that has sadly become a common script for many Balkan fans.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I cant believe it, but i completely agree with Fuss on this.
Batou
Guest
That's true striker and when a racist incident happens here, a headline along the lines of 'Australia shows its ugly side' would be fair play. Just as kaks has suggested for this incident in Croatia. I almost had an argument with an Indian taxi driver the other day about whether Australia had a problem with racism. He kept saying that it wasn't an issue and that India was much worse while I kept saying but what about red necks saying to go back where you came from? It was a bit odd. I still don't agree with him that there is no problem here and I think he is just happy to be here and has a high tolerance level (too high perhaps). Compared to other places though, maybe Australia is a bit better than how it can feel sometimes. I think the average Aussie has progressed a lot since the 60s too, even if there are some who are still struggling behind. Wow, that had nothing to do with football at all!
cm
Guest
Article on the original incident last year. http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/nov/17/croatia-fans-terrorism-italy-planned-cry-attention
Kaks
Roar Guru
Racism is everywhere Striker - it will never disappear. However the difference is that you will not go to a game in Aus in the 21st century and hear anti-semitic chants or racial chants like a whole stadium making monkey noises when a black player has the ball. You will also never see a swastika chemically burnt into the ground. Why? because in Aus we generally have the view that being racist is wrong where as in the Balkan/Slavic nations it seems to be accepted. Why else would a whole stadium erupt in racial chanting? My point remains, it is a cultural issue and not a footballing issue.
cm
Guest
however, in this particular case, it appears that a lot of what is behind the behaviour are ultras intentionally taking actions to get at the Croatian football authorities, which is a different issue (and one that isn't reflected in the article).
CG2430
Guest
Exactly. Somehow the media in Australia can't see that the poor behaviour - perceived or genuine - which we observe overseas and which they try to project onto Australian football is a symptom of other cultures and conflicts rooted deep in history. These countries happen to play football and thus the behaviour manifests itself in a football context, but to say football is the cause is straight-out ridiculous.
lester
Guest
Cronulla happened once. This goes on in the Balkans every single year.
AR
Guest
Sadly that's true. The behaviour of so many Balkan sporting fans (not just soccer) is an all-too-familar pattern - deliberately inciteful, aggressive, racist. Sadly it's the norm, more than just a rare occurrence.
melbourneterrace
Guest
Please, it lost any sort of image as a innocent patriotic cheer when it gained infamy in WW2 due it's embrace by Ustaše movement at a time when Croatia was a Nazi Satellite State. It's irrelevant how far back in history, it has been used. In 2015, it has just as many negative connotations as a fascist salute or the Nazi "Sieg Heil", which is why it is classed by European authorities as Hate speech. Criticism of Croatian fans for use of this chant is 100% justified, just as if the Germans started doing it.
striker
Guest
Kaks people get discriminated in this country on a daily basis from the muslims to the Indians as they are the newest group to arrive here, my parents coped this in the 60-70s when they came to Australia getting into fights becuase they were not anglo, so Racism has been here probally alot longer than you can care to admit.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
That's about as likely as the person responsible for putting this swastika on the pitch being a Hindu who wanted to bestow good luck upon his team... 'Za Dom Spremni' has very clear connotations of the Ustaše. While the expression does have some history in Croatia prior to becoming a nazi salute it's its use during WW2 (much like the Swastika and the Fasces) for which it is now primarily known for. Simunic would have known that. I daresay that 'Sieg Heil' may have been a popular expression in Germany prior to 1933 - it literally translates as "Hail Victory" - but were some footballer to use it to celebrate a win at an international match, especially a German player, we'd be in no doubt about their reasons for doing so.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I understand what you're saying, however you can claim that Cronulla was an isolated incident. Situations like this - including racist chanting - occurs in the Balkan and Slavic countries all too often.