The Croatian and Serbian soccer associations had been fined by FIFA on Wednesday for making Balkan political statements on the World Cup.
FIFA fined the Croatian 50,000 Swiss francs ($53,000) after followers of the crew verbally abused and taunted Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who has Serbian household ties. The Serbian Football Federation was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,300) for a political banner about neighboring Kosovo displayed within the locker room earlier than the crew’s opening sport towards Brazil.
It featured a map of Serbia that included the territory of its former province, which had been an impartial state for almost 15 years, and the slogan “No Surrender”.
The Kosovo Football Federation formally complained to FIFA in regards to the banner, which was hung over the lockers of two Serbian gamers on 24 November. FIFA stated the cost towards Croatia “related to the use of words and objects that are not suitable for transmitting a message.” sports activities occasion.”
Borjan was born in an ethnically Serbian area of Croatia. He and his household left his hometown in 1995 when it was taken over by the Croatian Army. Ethnic Serbs are stated to have fled on tractors.
During a 4–1 defeat of Canada on 27 November, a banner displayed by Croatian followers used the flag of tractor producer John Deere and the advertising and marketing slogan was modified to focus on Borjan. FIFA additionally fined Saudi Arabia 30,000 Swiss francs ($32,000) for “team misconduct” after receiving six yellow playing cards in video games towards Argentina and Mexico.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
