Australian-born Simunic banned from World Cup for insitigating Croatian fans through Nazi chants

ZURICH (AP) — GENEVA (AP) — FIFA has banned Croatian defender Josip Simunic for 10 games — including the entire World Cup — for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after the team qualified for next year's tournament in Brazil.

Simunic invoked a World War II-era slogan used by Croatia's then-puppet regime following a 2-0 playoff victory against Iceland last month.

"After taking into account all of the circumstances of the case, and particularly given the gravity of the incident, the committee decided to suspend the player for 10 official matches," FIFA said in a statement.

Michel Platini, president of the Union of European Football Associations, described Croatian fans as the worst behaved at the 2012 European Championship.

The sanction reflected FIFA's commitment to harsher sanctions for racism and discrimination at matches.

Croatian coach Niko Kovac, a teammate of Simunic at the 2006 World Cup, said the ban probably ended the 35-year-old defender's national team career.

"I'm unpleasantly surprised, shocked and disappointed by FIFA's ban of Simunic," Kovac said. "I'm primarily sad for Simunic who will miss the World Cup. I know him for long as a player and a person and I'm sure he did not want to offend anyone."

Kovac said Croatia's soccer federation will appeal to FIFA. If that fails, a challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport could follow.

Croatia hosted Iceland in Zagreb on Nov. 19 for a decisive qualifying match after a 0-0 tie in the first leg.

After the match, Simunic took a microphone on the field and shouted to supporters: "For the homeland!" The fans responded: "Ready!"

FIFA said Monday that the salute was "discriminatory and offended the dignity of a group of persons concerning ... race, religion or origin."

Simunic is barred from the stadiums where Croatia will play its next 10 games. He said he felt "bitter and shocked," according to Damir Vrbanovic, managing director of Croatia's soccer federation

"It is clear that FIFA wanted to send a strong message with this draconian punishment," Vrbanovic said.

FIFA also fined Simunic 30,000 Swiss francs ($33,800) and ordered the federation to pay a fine of 70,000 Swiss francs ($78,700).

Simunic previously defended his action, saying he was driven by love for his country.

The Australian-born player famously was ejected at the 2006 World Cup against Australia after receiving three yellow cards.

In a separate FIFA disciplinary decision, Croatian star forward Mario Mandzukic was banned for just one World Cup match for a red card against Iceland. Mandzukic will miss the tournament's opening match, when Croatia plays host Brazil in Sao Paulo on June 12.

"We knew that Mandzukic will be punished and in that context we are happy it's a one-match suspension," Kovac said.

The FIFA panel imposed the minimum sanction on Mandzukic for serious foul play.

The Bayern Munich forward, who scored the opening goal minutes earlier, was sent off for stamping on Iceland midfielder Johann Gudmundsson's left knee.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/simunic-banned-10-games-pro-nazi-chant-0

Australian-born, yes, but he has lived in Croatia almost his whole life, and played for the Croatian NT instead of the Australian NT - including against Australia in the 2006 World Cup, as the article states. Neo-fascism is virtually unheard of in Australia and is thought of as ridiculous and backwards.

Australia, such an awful people. 

Harmonica wrote:Australia, such an awful people. 

0.1/10 lol

Harmonica wrote:Australia, such an awful people. 

Won the ashes doe

Even though Cricket is a poverty sport tbh

Harmonica wrote:Australia, such an awful people. 

Used to be the land of criminals after all jk

Zealous wrote:

Harmonica wrote:Australia, such an awful people. 

Won the ashes doe

Even though Cricket is a poverty sport tbh

So true. Damn Napoli to hell. If only they had got through and then Surag would've had a Ricky Ponting avatar and a Mitchell Johnson signature - not because I follow cricket, but because he hates the Australian team.

Both are arrogant smugs but honestly wouldnt have minded having those two on my avatar and sig on a football forum.

S wrote:Both are arrogant smugs but honestly wouldnt have minded having those two on my avatar and sig on a football forum.

Next time...

I'd be an arrogant smug if i was one of the best batsmen in history or if i just won the ashes with basic tactics that make the poms look like idiots.

Just had to thrown in the Australian born LOL.

Fifa doing everything to make sure Brazil gets out of the group.

I Have Mono wrote:Fifa doing everything to make sure Brazil gets out of the group.

Can you really blame them for doing this?

Didnt the Nazis hate, and murder, ethnic Croats?

Its like these idiots dont even know what they are supporting. Australia needs to be more careful with who they let in their country.

Reading comprehension is low today I see.

First,

Simunic as one poster suggested right after the OP did not live long in Australia and is Croatian through and through. Hence, Australia shouldn't be even mentioned in the discussions.

Second,

The "Nazi" chant is a regular Croatian chant that has parallels in most Balkan countries and Russia. It is by no way a "Nazi" chant and it is ridiculous to paint it as such.

As noted in the article he used chants that were first utilized by a puppet Nazi government during WW2. The problem is not so much that he said it but that he was instigating 10,000 other fans to do the same.

Betty La Fea wrote:Didnt the Nazis hate, and murder, ethnic Croats?

Its like these idiots dont even know what they are supporting. Australia needs to be more careful with who they let in their country.

no the croatians collaborated with the nazis during World war II forming the nazi puppet state called NDH, killing muslims,serbs, gypsies and jews.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasenovac_concentration_camp

this is a very sensitive subject for some people so be careful what u write.

Lord Spencer wrote:
The "Nazi" chant is a regular Croatian chant that has parallels in most Balkan countries and Russia. It is by no way a "Nazi" chant and it is ridiculous to paint it as such.

From whatever little I could find on the internet , the ban seems ridiculous.

The wording of the chant is "Za dom-spremni" , which translates to "For the Homeland-ready" , hardly anything offensive with the wording.
The chant has been around as a symbol of Croatian nationality since the 17th century .

The Nazi's did use it as a salutation - but punishing someone for it now is akin to punishing someone for sporting a Adolf stache.

Moreover , a Croatian court has ruled around a year ago that the chant in itself isn't hateful . Fifa would have a hard time enforcing this ban , IMO .

Harmonica wrote:Australia, such an awful people. 

Stop wasting everyone's time! One person is not a country anyways!

white_star wrote:

Harmonica wrote:Australia, such an awful people. 

Stop wasting everyone's time! One person is not a country anyways!

Especially when that person hardly lived in the country.