I am about to enter very dangerous territory – a story carrying a trifecta of controversy.
It involves an Australian footballer who decided not to represent his country of birth, who allegedly expressed sympathy for the Nazis in public.
Mixed in is the long, bloody history of Balkan military and politics.
I will try and take an arms-length, objective view of it all, but doubtless I am going to step on somebody’s toes along the way.
My curiosity was piqued the other day when Saturday’s Canberra Times carried a story about former Croatian international, Josip Šimunić, continuing to fight to clear his name after FIFA imposed a severe ban, effectively ending his international career.
Most Socceroos fans will remember Šimunić as the Croatian footballer who received three yellow cards when Australia met Croatia in the final game of the group stage of the 2006 World Cup. One of many controversies that game, Australia would go on to meet Italy in the knockout stages after securing an all-important 2-2 draw.
The other notable aspect about that match was not that there was at least one Australian representing Croatia, but the Socceroos had no fewer than six players in their match day squad who were of Croatian descent.
The referee that day, Englishman Graham Poll, an experienced international referee, would never referee another World Cup game again. He wrote in his memoirs that when he showed Šimunić his first yellow, he mistakenly wrote down “Australia number three” (Craig Moore) because of Šimunić’s accent.
Šimunić was born and raised in Canberra, having played for Croatia Deakin, and was good enough to attend the AIS. He played a couple of seasons as a teenager for the Melbourne Knights in the NSL before being picked up by Hamburg and went on to have a successful career with Hertha Berlin.
He openly admits that his dream from childhood was to represent Croatia, and ultimately he was successful. But around the time of the 2006 World Cup, not a lot of love was displayed for him on the part of most Socceroos fans.
One small point of clarification, while Šimunić is of Croatian ethnicity, his parents were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Damn. I tried to stay out of Balkan politics, but in a story like this, it’s almost impossible.
This is a region which, since from the fall of the Roman Empire, has been fought over continuously by Franks, the Byzantine Empire, the Venetians, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (plus myriad Slavic neighbours). That’s before we even get to World War II and the post-war period.
There have been many bloody battles and many opportunities to fight for independence and self-determination.
Šimunić’s sin was to speak two words which had been used by Croatian nationalists for centuries. Unfortunately for him, these same words were also associated with the Ustaše, a Croatian ultranationalist movement which was aligned with the Nazis during World War II.
It was in the final qualifying game for the 2014 World Cup against Iceland in which Croatia had just won qualification. Šimunić turned to the Croatian fans and shouted Za dom! (For the Homeland!), to which the Croatian fans responded, Spremni (Ready, or We are ready).
The Canberra Times described the expression as being “similar” to the one used by the Ustaše during World War II. Either way, it’s not difficult to imagine that such an expression has been used by Croatians over the course of centuries of having to fight for independence.
The main problem for Šimunić is that neo-Nazi sympathies remain rife across many ultras throughout Eastern Europe, and FIFA had to be seen to be sending a strong message against the public expression of such sympathies.
Clearcut or not, Šimunić’s words were viewed in that light, and he paid the price. Šimunić appealed to the CAS but it ruled in favour of FIFA.
More recently, Šimunić has taken his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in a final bid to clear his name.
He has released a documentary giving his side of the story, and most recently he has taken up the position of Assistant Coach OF the Croatian national football team.
While I understand his cause is unlikely to garner too much sympathy among Australian sports fans, there is no denying his unique place in Australian sporting history.
Brian
Guest
I didn't like Simunic from the get go being dirty and turning his back on Australia. That is however understandable and essentially a career decision. However re-raising Nazi chants is not. He should be mildly aware of Croation football supporters, the likes of which painted a Swatstika on the pitch before the recent qualifier against Italy. Inciting racism and hatred is not my idea of funny. FIFA were absolutely right to ban him, shame he is not banned from being an official coach at Euro 2016.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I accept that distinction exists. With Simunic, he had the opportunity, he felt a strong attachment to Croatia (and any Australian-born of immigrant parents would understand that strong sense of attachment), and he exercised his freedom of choice. Of course, sport is combative, and our normal response is to not go out of our way to express any understanding of or sympathy with our rivals, and in this case, it's doubly worse because he has turned his back on our team - so I understand that all of that is at play, I just feel a bit more forgiving about it (of course, I also follow other countries in the World Cup, so it's natural I would not feel that same sense of betrayal).
Fadida
Guest
Sorry for the spelling above. Terrible! Nightshift :(
Fadida
Guest
The difference, which I think is clear, is that all of those players we used from other countries migrated here. Most (barring any from NZ) weren't good enough to playy for their birth country. Simujuc was born here, wanted by Australia, but chose another country. He would have won 100 caps for us. Had he migrated to Germaby, where he spent most of his playing time, you could argue their are similarities. There aren't though
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Yep I completely understand that MF (your last paragraph). France is having exactly the same debate: some people feel shafted and betrayed when they see young french-algerians, malians, senegalese etc choose to play for the country of their parents. Perso I think its something we cant control. Whether they want to play for algeria, or in this case croatia because they ' feel' algerian or croatian or just because they know they wont be picked from france/oz and want a crack at playing a wc one day is imo anecdotal. Plus I dont see any satisfactory solution who could resolve the issue (it would have to be a case by case thing imo). But I get your point and completely understand people's concern too. Not an easy one.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
:)
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Thanks Ben - it was a remarkable time. Of course, Australia was in its first WC in 32 years, and had to draw with Croatia in that final game to progress, and incredibly, there was a long list of Croatian-Australians on both sides - the likes of which we will probably never see again. On that last point, this merits an article (or two) in its own right: what were the circumstances which led to this occurring, at a time when we had just wound down the NSL and started a new professional competition? This is just my guess: 1. that the various NSL clubs backed by the different Yugoslav migrant communities had done so well at producing many, many professional players speaks volumes for the youth coaching undertaken in those clubs (and the dedication of many who clearly knew what they were doing); and 2. in my view, 2006 represents perhaps the very end of the line of the offspring of one of the last of the post-War migrations, a group who had the werewithal to create successful clubs and coaching structures, which is unlikely to be repeated in newer waves of migrations (if nothing else, because they no longer have access to the upper tier of club soccer). It's also worth reminding ourselves that there have been many, many successful coaches working all around the world who go back to the former Yugoslavia - I'm not sure what they did, but it was successful at producing good coaches.
Towser
Guest
Yes tight with everything,including compliments. Yorkshire saying found on many pint mugs in the county. It shows a Yorkshire farmer raising his pint mug. "eres tu me un mar wifes usban not forgettin mesen" Also in the self compliment category. "if tha eva dus owt fer nowt allus do it fer thisen"
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Thanks for the comment nick, and yes, that's definitely some of the "grey" I was wanting to introduce. As striker says, in the past we have not been backwards in using players born in other countries. Having said that, I agree there is a real government policy issue to be addressed about the investment we might put into an athlete to attend the AIS who then goes to earn a very good living from his or her sport and who then represents another country (although I'm not sure there's a huge incidence of that sort of thing).
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Interestingly, in that Canberra Times article I refer to, Simunic talks very, very highly of Ron Smith.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Gee whiz Towser, when you were talking about the dangers of plonking foot in gob, I was waiting for you to compliment me on having avoided doing so - but the compliment never came. Like a true Yorkshireman!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Ha ha, I do remember the rugby tackle on Dukes, I just wasn't 100% sure of who did it. In hindsight, it could only have been Simunic because he would have been the only who had the frame to match Dukes. I'm wondering whether they ever spent any time together at the Knights? Dukes probably would have already left by the time Simunic got there. By the way, there are many who viewed Simunic as an extremely skilled player (for a centre-half).
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
A nice read, MF. I remember watching the match in the Boomerang Bar in Dortmund. The Australians were lamenting the fact that the Croatian side was laden with Aussies and the Croats in the bar were bemoaning the loss of so many Croats to Australia. A group of mad Scotts (they weren't in the World Cup but turned up in full kilt & tartan regardless) wanted to know if it was Australia v Australia or Croatia v Croatia. Great days :)
Fadida
Guest
As an example, Google "Simunic vs Sulejmani, brutal foul, red card". I particularly love how as the Serbian (coincidence?) gets past him he both elbows him in the head AND kicks him. Za Dom indeed
Fadida
Guest
Are you saying he chose Croatia because he wasn't selected by Australia? That's not quite how it played out. I'm pretty sure he claimed playing for Croatia was going to help his career, even though he was already in the Bundesliga. He was a dirty player, regardless of who he marked, and how many WC he played in. I've met Kevin Muscat and like many found him to be eloquent, polite and a little charming even. He was also a nasty character, without the fascist behaviour, or abandonment of his own country for personal gain...
Towser
Guest
Prefer to see articles like this on the Roar, requiring thought before plonking foot in gob, than those generating endless drivel, resulting in, well endless drivel. This could easily be a foot in gob article, due to the sensitivities involved and for those underestimating how long historical sensitivities carry on, it can be a very long time. Having been involved in a physical altercation with a local when working in Blackpool Lancashire for a Yorkshire builder as his labourer, about my usage of the term "mashed' instead of "brewed" for making tea, it showed to me that the "War of the Roses" may have ended over 500 years ago, but it indeed lingered in the minds of some. This wasn't an isolated incident but a build up of banter(heated at times) over a few weeks between "Us"Yorkie builder & labourer and "Them" Lancashire building gang about the merits of both counties. Now from what I know of the" long, bloody history of Balkan military and politics" the War of the Roses was by comparison a kindergarten sandpit tiff(although they can get nasty) and also having lived in a boarding house with a few " Balkan lads" when I first arrived in Australia, I fully understand their volatile nature after a few beers on a Saturday night with them. That image rightly or wrongly has been projected on the various Football teams in Australia from that region of Europe, more so than any other "Ethnic" or otherwise teams. So dont know Josip from a bar of soap, but what I do know that its much easier to target a Croatian lad as a "traitor" in the eyes of the Aussie football fraternity than it is to point the finger at "Harry" who could have waivered if he hadn't been picked early for Australia, even more so if he utters unutterable words, better long forgotten. Indeed it could be argued that a local Football icon like Dukes was only a "Nats whisker" away from donning the red and white. Or was the Anglophile "Surfer Craig" castigated enough for turning his back on Australia, at a time when football's profile in Australia was about as prominent as the amount of fair play trophies "Muzza" and the inventor of red mist "Danny Tiatto" had on their mantlepiece. The Socceroos could have done with a high profile Liverpool player like Surfer Craig to raise their image in this country at the time. Also under the radar at the time Tony Dorigo, another who may have helped the Socceroo image cause. Hope the foot wasnt too much in the gob.
striker
Guest
Nickoldschool i agree i am sure if were were to poach players from Brazil or Argentina to represent Australia we wouldn't care, but becuase his choose to play for Croatia which at the time it had a much better chance of getting to the World Cup compared to Australia i don't blame him in doing so, why wouldn't Croatia want to poach him he was there best defender they had since that brilliant 98 World Cup team they had with Suker,Boban and co. Amazing talent he is up there with Kewell and Viduka in this country.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article MF, very well written and yes, touchy 'topic' (sounds more Croatian than subject!). I have always felt FIFA had been too harsh on this occasion and didn't take into consideration the emotionally-charged context around this match. There is often a fine line between fascism and nationalism, especially in Europe, that's why we have created words such as 'ultra nationalism' which are open to interpretation ( I don't condone any of the 3, just saying its not as black and white as some ppl my think). In any case I think Simunic's words were more patriotic than fascist. I also think Simunic and many others in his situation feel the need to overdo their allegiance to the homeland (being born and raised elsewhere). Re not playing for the country where you were born and raised, again I think its a very personal decision and in any case its never easy to make a choice. Viduka himself often said he was aussie through and through yet had Croatia in his blood, hence the career he had. Those guys childhood in oz was with Hadjuk Split or Dynamo Zagreb posters on the wall, they played for their local Oz-Croatian clubs etc. I have no problem with some of them choosing to represent the country of their parents over Oz. Again I think its a very personal choice and don't think its showing disrespect to the country where you were born and raised.
paulie bro
Guest
Who could forget his rugby tackle on Viduka in the box that Poll completely missed?
Eamonn
Guest
Fadida. I interviewed Joe at length some years ago. Joe is a gentle and kind guy. To label him as nasty character - maybe you have that impression from games you've watched - but I dont think you'll hear any Aussie Coach or Player who know him label him as such. In fact the opposite. This nasty character you speak of still meets with Ned Zelic amd Ron Smith when back in Canberra. Jo is very appreciative of the opportunities he was given and the Coaches including Ron who worked with him. Jo played in three world cups marking Ronaldo Henry and Viduka. He may be misunderstood but he's not a nasty character. The fact he continues to aim to overturn the Fifa decision says a lot. You may not like the fact he chose Croatia over Australia, many Aussies dont, though at the time Hayden Foxe was chosen ahead of him. Did he try and right a wrong in the socceroos croatia game? He played poorly and man handled his mate Viduka in the box in the first few minutes. A certain penalty on any other day. I ask that you reconsider your assessment. Jo is a gentle giant a tremendous footballer who has achieved more in the game than any other Aussie. And he came from Canberra. Amazing career. World Cups, Euros etc.