Milan Borjan’s phone number was leaked online before Canada’s match against Croatia at the World Cup.
Soccer goalkeeper Milan Borjan was born in the city of Knin in 1987. The man’s parents are ethnic Serbs. There are still tensions between Croats and Serbs.
Yugoslavia’s breakup wars tore the country apart, and in 1995 the family fled Croatia to the Serbian capital, Belgrade, where he began playing for Red Star. Later in 2000, the family moved to Canada.
Milan Borjan got the wrath of Croatian fans on his neck. PDO
Borjan got to choose between three national football teams: Canada, Croatia and Serbia. He decided he wanted to represent Canada.
The goalkeeper played in Helsinki in the second qualifying round of the Champions League against HJK in the summer of 2019. The club won the home match 2–1, but was eliminated from the playoffs on aggregate 3–2.
There was a lot of police presence when HJK and Red Star Belgrade met. Henri Karkkainen
Hostile Croat supporters
Croatian fans booed Borjan during the World Cup match. There was also a tasteless banner in the stands with a picture of a John Deere tractor and the text: “Knin 95, nothing runs like Borjan”. The text is a reference to the tractor manufacturer’s advertising slogan and the player’s escape from Croatia.
– It just shows how primitive people are. I have nothing to comment on that. They should talk to themselves and their families because they clearly have frustrations that they come here to vent, Borjan said The Daily Mail by.
Croatian supporters could also be heard chanting that Borjan was an Ustaša in social media videos. The Ustaša is a Croatian Nazi organization that operated during World War II.
Thousands of text messages
The Canadian goalkeeper revealed that he received at least 2,500 disparaging text messages from Croatians.
– It tells who those people are. I wish nothing but the best for Croatia, Borjan said.
Part of the reason for the extremely hostile behavior may be Borjan’s past interview to the Serbian Kurir, where he mentioned that he was born in the Serbian Republic of Krajina, not in Croatia. Krajina was an unrecognized territory claimed by Croatian Serbs during the Croatian War in the early 1990s. The city of Knin is located in the area.
– Everyone has the right to think differently. They can hate me or love me, but they can never change my family ties or my place of birth, Borjan said during the interview.
Fifa is investigating
The international football association Fifa started a disciplinary procedure due to the shouting and behavior of Croatian supporters. Fifa also referred to its rules regarding discrimination and safety in games.
The proceedings followed an official appeal by the Canadian Soccer Association. Canada wrote to Fifa that they feel great dissatisfaction and disgust with the tractor banner, Canada Sportsnet by.
– Canada requests a full explanation of how the banner and actions were allowed in the stadium and how Fifa intends to handle the matter, the organization said.
– We also demand an official apology.
Canada’s last match in the opening group is against Morocco on Thursday.