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Soccer

Euro 2016

Croatian ultras could put stop to Spain game

Radical fan group warn of disturbances planned for Croatia's Euro 2016 match against Spain on Tuesday night in protest against the Croatian Football Federation

David F. Sanchidrián
David F. SanchidriánAS_Sanchidrian
Croatian ultras could put stop to Spain game
REUTERS

Croatian ultras could attempt to put a stop to their country’s Euro 2016 match against Spain on Tuesday. It’s something that both the French authorities and Croatian government have warned of ahead of the two sides’ final game in Group D.

"The fans are close to victory"

Hours after the Croatian Minister of Interior broadcasted his fears on Monday, a radical group displayed banners in the streets of Split confirming their intentions to disrupt proceedings (as they did in Croatia’s last match against the Czech Republic on Friday) warning their protests against the Croatian Football Federation could not be stopped. “Tomorrow will not be the day you get rid of us,” read one banner, while another declared that “the fans are close to victory.”

Flares are thrown onto the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group D soccer match between the Czech Republic and Croatia
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Flares are thrown onto the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group D soccer match between the Czech Republic and CroatiaDarko BandicAP

"Sports terrorists"

The Croatian Football Federation (CFF) was fined 100,000 euros on Monday after flares were thrown onto the pitch in St Etienne during the 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic, causing the game to be halted for a number of minutes.  The disturbances have caused scandal in the Balkan nation, with coach Ante Cacic branding the perpetrators “sports terrorists”.

Nazi symbol

The radical group behind the disturbances, which accuse the CCF of corruption and using the national side for a money making tool, were also responsible for penalties imposed on the Croatia team during qualification for the tournament. A Nazi symbol was marked on the pitch ahead of their qualifier against Italy last year, for which UEFA docked one point and ordered Croatia to play two games behind closed doors.