Soccernet.com has reported that UEFA has now given its referees the power to stop and even abandon matches should racist fans act out.
As you all should know by now, Croatian fans haven’t exactly been angels over the years. So what will this new UEFA verdict mean for Vatreni fans should they maintain their rampant behavior?
Croatian fans most recently delayed a World Cup qualifying match in Andorra (who are ranked #196 in the world) by throwing flares onto the field from outside the stadium. Luckily the game was not suspended and Croatia got out of there with three points.
In Croatia’s massive rematch with England last September in Zagreb, the HNS was once again fined as Croatian fans were caught chanting monkey slurs at England’s Emile Heskey.
A Vatican flag was even spotted in Croatia’s quarterfinal clash with Turkey, which is a Muslim country, at Euro 2008.
Will this new UEFA law finally put our fans into their place? I’m going to say NO! So how do we tame our loyal and dedicated fans? Must we play behind closed doors to send the right message?
With Croatia’s biggest match of the year coming up on June 6th in Zagreb; I have to admit that playing Ukraine out of all countries relieves me. I don’t think Croatians fans have anything on them. At least I hope not!
Here’s some pictures of Croatian fans at their worst…
@anonymous,
before you go off on something that you dont know about, do your homework.
1) that "red and white checkered flag" was around before "ustashe"
2)Croatia a nazi country? hahaha
Its interesting that people point out the Italian fans "provocation" as an excuse. The Italians waved a symbol of Brotherhood and Unity, they didn't wave the Serbian flag. The President of Yugoslavia, Tito was a Croat. The response of the Croats is to make a Swatstika, because that best represents what they are all about. No need to say anything bad about Croatians, let them do the talking, let them make their swatstikas, the red and white checked flag is a symbol of the Croatian SS, the Ustashe. Croatia of today is essentially a Nazi country
For some reason I felt that this post will bring politics to the table instead of football and I was right. We shouldnt be arguing about Trg Marsala Tito, Communism is Croatia, and-or ˝are there jews in croatia˝.
@Ante BBB
˝The human swastika was done in retaliation because the other team's fans in Livorno taunted the Croatians by hanging up communist flags and banners that applaud Tito. I thought it was a great response but naturally the rest of the world won't focus on the other side who instigated everything.˝
Yes, the human swastika was done in retaliation but it doesnt make it right. The rest of the world never mentioned the Yugoslav flags that Italians were waving, but we did spot that human swastika from Croatia.
Yes these are ˝individuals˝ that need to be punished and with some many of them scattered around the stadiums it is difficult to control. The fans sitting next to these goones need to gang on on these ˝individuals˝ instead of turning an eye.
Another Way UEFA gets $$$$$$$$$$$ “Against Modern Football” All The Way!! I see it already us with no World Cup. They made all these new rules so quickly as of late and it’s all to get us back for knocking out England I know it. Injuring our players so we put out a lower quality team out on the field against England. Pay the referee off mixed with Academy Award winning acting from Joe Cole and John Terry. Not to mention that all of a sudden at the before the qualifying starts goals against Andorra won’t count when determining the ranking of the second placed teams I wonder why? Maybe because we have six goals and it also takes away two wins from us in the dtermining the rank as well which means we can kiss those 6 points good bye. I’m starting to doubt a miraculous leapfrog of England at the top but the Ukraine game will tell all. If we win it’s still ours for a possible taking. We’d need a combination of England losing to us at Wembley plus England losing or tying at Kiev against Ukraine which has a good chance of happening or at least a bette one than Belarus surprising England although they are decent. As for Croatia being Anti-Semetic chill out. Also isn’t interesting how Turkey’s flag has the Muslim Crescent on it, I mean if they can be supportive of their religion why can’t we bring in a Vatican flag?? If it bothers them why don’t they take off the Crescent it might bother some people unsupportive of what they believe in. It’s gone way out of proportion with the Racism Allegations. I bet the howling at Heskey was the fans going O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O after a chant or something and the footage was cut out. We as a people will never have our day until we all join together with a single formed opinion and make use of it. Hell even support from the rest of the former Yugoslavia nations is acceptable the more the merrier just so we don’t have to change our ways. We’re here like it or not get over it and deal with it Jeez. Lupi Petama Reci Evo Sve Za HRVATSKU!!!!!!
Without having to write another novel, it boils down to this:
You are clearly a supporter of modern football while I clearly am against it.
Ante BBB, I don’t know where to begin….
I mentioned the trg (I won’t mention his name so you dont have to spit) as an ironic example (and yes I find it quite curious myself, all things considered…) so really there is no need to tell me “shame on you”. Really.
And I never called anyone a communist. But Slaven Bilic likes wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt…so what do you suggest: we tar and feather him?
And the last time I checked, the mere mentioning of a name of a trg doesn’t define someone’s political views or beliefs or the “trueness” of their Croatianhood, so please refrain from such comments.
My point was 1) the swastika has nothing to do with a contemporary Croatian football team; 2) having such an image broadcasted world wide only invites negative comments and criticism such as the comment posted here by an anonymous individual (not to mention what a swastika represents, entails and suggests); 3) there is a very good chance that if you occupying yourself making such symbols, you are not watching the game and more concerned with the opposing fans rather than supporting or rooting for your team and 4)and the said symbol speaks of intolerance….so do you think that is the image that should define Croatia’s football team?
…Plus such notions as: “be above it ” or “be mature” or “good sportmanship” are elements of the real world and aren’t or weren’t considered, so this does imply “Romper Room” like behaviour.
And then thanks to these fans and their thoughtful and brilliant actions…or “retaliation” as you say…the HNS has to be fined or threatened with a ban!!! Should I applaud that? Even the Dinamofan thinks they look silly in the end. And I am not condoning the opposing fans’ behaviour.
And I don’t want to be in their shoes….I am more concerned with watching the game, rooting for my team…and secondly why on earth would I give the unimaginative cretin on the opposing side, the satisfaction of knowing he or she actually “got to me” or “bothered me” by calling me something that I am not…no skin off my nose.
And you and I obviously do not agree on the definition of what a “true” or “real” fan is….so I shall leave it at that.
And I choose not to discuss the greater or lesser evils of communism vs fascism in this forum since this is neither the time nor the place since it has absolutely NOTHING to do with football nor the HNS. And that was my point from the beginning.
And thank you for at least agreeing with me about the flares being disruptive.
You and I will have to agree to disagree, since I cannot support irresponsible behaviour that is damaging to the HNS and hinders Croatia’s chances of playing in international events.
nancy
What were you trying to prove with the Trg Marsala tita (spit) in Zagreb statement? Did you know that there have been at least two major initiatives in the past year to get rid of this trg and to make it Kazalisni Trg? Does this make Croatia communist? The new government’s mafia and communist (spit) roots, this will not happen. Therefore, it’s not a fair statement nor a fair example. My family is from Zagreb, am I communist now because there’s a trg named after that djubre? I don’t think so. Every time I walk by that trg, I spit because it’s an eye sore. As do other real Purgeri and Hrvati who don’t want to see that dictator’s name on the capital city of all Croatians. Shame on you.
The true fans? Stop while you’re ahead.
Have you even put yourselves in their shoes? Judging by your answer, the answer is an overwhelming no. They were bombarded with communist propaganda, slogans, flags, etc. and they retaliated with the one thing that would make a statement – the human swastika. What should’ve they done…clapped? Ignored it? Wake up already and join the real world. This isn’t Romper Room.
I’m not an anti-Semite but I do applaud the effort which in no way was meant to insult the Jewish people but was used as a raised middle finger to those communists (spit) on the other side of the stands.
Why is the spot-light not on them? Answer me that if you can. Is communism a lesser evil than fascism?
Overall, I stand behind it. If it makes me an idiot then fine but I will not take opposing supporters flashing communist (spit) propaganda sitting down…and neither did the REAL fans.
I will agree with you on the throwing flares on the field as a stupid move because it does disrupt the game and is a stupid move. If you’re going to light a flare, keep it in your hands.
yes there are jews in croatia and it is silly to make sweeping generalization re the question: are croats antisemites?! c’mon!
the so-called fans “who make human swastika’s in retaliation to an opposing team’s fans hanging up communist flags and banners that applaud tito” are idiots..(attention: trg marsala tita in zagreb!!!!).
i, as a croat and a supporter of football, do not defend such actions or behaviour and feel that it does a disservice to croatia and their football team.
and throwing flares is disruptive to the game. i never saw a player on the field jumping for joy when this happens, i have only witnessed frustration.
yes ideally it would be great to punish individuals but unfortunately they have not opted for that.
croatia has a lot to be proud of, it is unfortunate and truly sad that some choose to tarnish croatia’s good name and show poor sportmanship like behaviour. i honestly believe that true fans know how to behave and frown on such actions.
nancy
Are there any jews in croatia? are most croats ant-semetic?
The human swastika was done in retaliation because the other team’s fans in Livorno taunted the Croatians by hanging up communist flags and banners that applaud Tito. I thought it was a great response but naturally the rest of the world won’t focus on the other side who instigated everything.
hehe yeah well Croatia don’t really like Russia and neither does Ukraine so should get on swimmingly:)
i don’t think its fair that HNS keeps getting fined as how are they supposed to do anything. Just getting any fans to turn up to a game in Croatia requires hard work no mind banning people.
The people who throw flares achieve nothing. they should get rugby tackled by the police cos that’s just annoying as it spoils the match and makes it boring for everyone. There’s nothing wrong with flares in the crowd but why they have to throw them on the pitch i have no idea. Should be rule that if one gets thrown on the pitch the fan should be made to eat it.
Well dinamofan,
Croatia has a horrible reputation as it is and it’s going to stay that way for quite some time. At least with this UEFA Board of Directors. We’re an ‘inferior’ country; remember?
So when bad stuff happens to the Croatia’s and Moldova’s of the world- no one cares. But if we light a flare or chant something that no one can even translate correctly, we’re the ‘dickheads!’
In the end, it’s all about $$$$$$$$$$$
Read the ‘Against Modern Football’ link. Interesting ideology for these soccer purists.
Its all about individuals at the end of the day. That’s where UEFA have got it all wrong. They punish whole countries when its individuals who do things. When a camera goes on a fan chanting racist abuse they’ll say its a Croatia fan or French fan or whatever chanting, but really they should be identifying the individual person and taking personal action against them. Then they lose their job or whatever cos they have a criminal record so they’ll soon learn. You get racism everywhere. Also little recognition is given to racism against gypsies like when Moldovan and Mihajlovic complained nothing was done – yet if its a high profile footballer like Viera, Etoo or Heskey UEFA pay attention. Also if some small club player like Zoro complains little is done. I don’t think UEFA is really that even handed in how it deals with this issue. Also some of these people in Ultra’s – you can’t teach them anything as they don’t have a clue. Its like those Hajduk fans abusing Etto, Dudu, Sammir trying to make out they are so lower form of human whilst they are ripping their Croatian team to shreds. They just look silly in the end.