BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) -Midfielder Adem Ljajic has been suspended from the Serbian national team for failing to sing the national anthem before a friendly against Spain, Serbia's football association said Monday.

It said in a statement that Serbia's new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic "sent Ljajic home'' because he did not comply with one of his rules that stipulates players have to sing the anthem before all international matches.

Ljajic, who is a Muslim unlike most of the Serbian team players who are Christian Orthodox, did not sing the anthem "because of his personal reasons,'' the statement said.

"The coach had a meeting with Ljajic,'' the statement said. "After getting the information that because of his personal reasons he did not sing the anthem, Sinisa Mihajlovic told the player to return home.''

Serbia lost 2-0 against Spain in St. Gallen, Switzerland, on Saturday. Serbia, which did not qualify for the European Championship, is to play France in another friendly match later this week.

The association said that when the 20-year-old Ljajic changes his "personal stand,'' he will be allowed back into the squad.

"If I don't respect myself, no one will respect me,'' Ljajic said upon his return to Belgrade on Monday.

Ljajic was involved in an incident earlier this month with his former Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi who slapped him as he returned to the bench after being substituted in a Serie A game. Ljajic had stuck his thumb up ironically. Rossi was fired and Ljajic suspended after the incident.


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Ljajic

Serbia

Isn't it his own f*cking business whether or not he wants to sing the anthem? Don't see the big deal, I don't even know all the words to our anthem, FFS :p

He could have at least hummed the anthem

pffft personal reasons

one of his rules that stipulates players have to sing the anthem before all international matches.



Clearly he failed to meet coaches instruction.

Messi should be banned from Argentina too.

It's stupid, he is free to sign it or not, also Arabs playing for Israel don't sing the national anthem, and with all the racism in Israel coaches simply don't omit them for not singing it.

ehhh it's a song that apart of the national team that has asked you to represent them and you won't sing?

wtf.

Zealous wrote:Messi should be banned from Argentina too.

It wouldn't make a difference honestly

ColoJunior wrote:ehhh it's a song that apart of the national team that has asked you to represent them and you won't sing?

wtf.

So what? This is about sports, not about beating the hun. Football fan culture, even among national teams, doesn't have too much in common with patriotism in many countries.

Football and politics are related so deal with it mister Ljack what ever...

You were asked to move the lip up and down not to kill the referee LOL

It's in the job description dude.
Represent a whole country and can't sing the anthem?

Explain.

And no curveballs. I get called up to play for USA. It's an honor/privilege and I won't sing the anthem? Now why would I do that?

If the coach urged him to sing it, he should sing it and not act like little douche. I get Ibra or Ronaldo for having big ego's but guys like Ljajic and Bendtner who are not that important for their country/team

I respect Ljajic's decision not to sing it....just as much as I respect the coach's decision to send him home

It should be up to the player whether they want to sing or not.

So what messi has to do with this? messi doesnt sing because he doesnt know words not because personal reasons. if any problem he will send his coach home

It's up to the player tbh.

This is why nationalism continues to be a problem in Serbia. Those who dissent against such nonsense get punished by officials.

Ljajic

Ridiculous. That seems to me a discrimination against Ljacic.

Anyway, religion is partly to blame too, always creating conflicts between people.

I'm with free_chat mostly, but TBH they had a rule you had to sing the anthem, and I get that they're sanctioning a guy who knew the rules before he joined up. If they just did it because they felt it was unpatriotic, it'd be far worse, but since the Serbian FA actually bothered to make a rule out of it, I suppose it's not that bad. It's just stupid.

Yeah, but they obviously made the rule because they thing that not singing the anthem is unpatriotic. Serbians are dangerous ultra-nationalists.

serbs are very narcissistic and its starting to show again after the new radical president being elected.

Rebaño Sagrado wrote:

Zealous wrote:Messi should be banned from Argentina too.

It wouldn't make a difference honestly

The manager AND the players(including ljajic) had agreed to sing the national anthem as to install some national pride into the squad, ljajic failed to do his part of the agreement, so I dont understand what messi has got to do with this, unless you are so totally obsessed with him....

And that it wouldnt make a difference :Facepalm: