Because of the behavior of some fans in the preliminary round match of the 2022 World Cup against Canada, the Croatian association has to pay a fine.
FIFA had previously launched an investigation after the Croatians’ second group game against Canada (4-1).
50,000 Swiss franc fine
The world association has now fined the south-eastern Europeans CHF 50,000 (about EUR 50,000) for violating Article 16 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The reason is the “use of words and objects to convey a message inappropriate for a sporting event,” as the article says.
Canada’s goalkeeper Milan Borjan, son of Serbian parents, had been repeatedly insulted and whistled at by supporters of the 2018 vice world champion.
Fans with an allusion to Borjan’s escape
A poster was also displayed in the stadium, alluding to Operation Oluja (Storm) in the Croatian War. The background is that Borjan was born in Knin, which was initially seized by the Serbs after the collapse of Yugoslavia, while the Croatian residents were expelled. War crimes are said to have taken place. In 1995 the city was retaken from the Croats.
Borjan first fled to Belgrade with his parents, then moved to Canada. “Nothing works like Borjan,” said the poster. In addition, there should have been insulting chants from the ranks against the keeper.
hate mail over the phone
According to Borjan’s statement, his phone number was also published before the game. He received thousands of messages from Croatian fans before the game. “It shows how primitive people are. I don’t want to comment on that. They should work on themselves and their families because they are obviously frustrated.”said Borjan, who is at Serbia’s former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade.
In the past, he himself had caused controversy with controversial interviews, saying that his place of birth was not Croatian.