FIFA to punish racism by Croatians

[Roninvancouver]

...seems like extremism is in abundance these days...even in the heart of Europe :|

FIFA to punish racism by Croatians

Friday, August 18, 2006 Posted: 1556 GMT (2356 HKT)


FIFA have begun disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) following racist behavior by Croatia fans, the world governing body said on Friday.

It said Croatian fans had formed a swastika and made the Nazi salute in the stands during a friendly against Italy in Livorno on Wednesday.

Croatian soccer officials were not available for immediate comment but earlier on Friday they condemned the behavior of Croat fans.

"I was really shocked and disappointed by the fans. They do not care about Croatia but only about themselves," HNS President Vlatko Markovic told the Jutarnji List daily.

Fans of FC Rijeka, named Armada, confirmed they were behind the incident.

"The Nazi cross was our response to provocations (by Italian fans) who waved the Yugoslav flag and communist symbols," one Armada fan told the Jutarnji List.

Chief HNS security official Zoran Cvrk fears the repercussions will hurt a joint bid by Croatia and Hungary to stage the 2012 European Championship.

"Each incident with fans is a shot in our bid to host the Euro 2012," he told the Vecernji List daily.

"This incident deserves to be treated severely. There is no doubt that both FIFA and (European soccer body) UEFA will condemn it.

"We call on the fans to help us find the perpetrators so that police can ban them from the stadiums."

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/08/18/croatia.racism/




http://www.farenet.org/images/news/Italy%20-%20Croatia%20Human%20Swastika%2010876_170820060321 35%5B1%5D.jpg

[YnD]

Punish them. Good.

[rayesyn]

an eye for and eye.....

[Handa]

Wow, they physically made a Swastika... that takes some planning and diligence, I'm not sure if they should be comended on their skill or severely beaten for their stupidity.

So sad that people still throw this symbol around after all it has done to humanity :(

an eye for and eye.....

....makes the whole world blind" -Gandhi

[bottomfeeder]

"The Nazi cross was our response to provocations (by Italian fans) who waved the Yugoslav flag and communist symbols," one Armada fan told the Jutarnji List.


This is not racism.
It is political commentary

notice - Italians waving Yugoslav flags which is a terrible insult to Croatians who in the early 1990s suffered greatly at the hands of the Serbs and the Serb led Yugoslav government during the Croatian secession from Yugoslavia.

The Croatians wanted to remind Italy of their Nazi allegiance during WW2.

So with that said - why is this racism?
It is a historical fasct that Italians were allied with the Nazis.

The Croatian Swastika is the equivalent of the Zidane headbut on the idiot Italian soccer player that was taunting Zidane.

[kuba]

Ever since the EU (European community in general), has had to open its borders a lot wider now, the tolerance for new immigrants is really low.
For years, most European countries didn't have a diverse ethnic social setting. It was strictly, caucasin based.

Some buddies of mine in Germany went to jail for starting crap in a bar and these guys are big (I mean 6'4, 225 and mostly muscle).

A group of middle-eastern guys (5 or 6), were a little too forward around some girls at the bar and as the girls were getting up to move seats, one of the guys grabbed her calling her racist, etc,etc. Well newsflash guys, not every girl is gonna like you regardless of your background (what if she was married, engaged or bf?), get over it.

My buddies got up and and asked the guy nicely to let go of the girl.
One of the guys sucker punched my buddy and well, $h*t hit the fan.
Needless to say, 4 of the 5/6 guys left with their faces mashed, but my buddies got charged with some new anti-racism laws.
They were out in a few days as the bar owner came to the prosecuting attorney with the incident on tape.

Wish they could have gotten a copy of the tape, I'd post it online.