The Croatian and Serbian soccer federations had been fined by FIFA on Wednesday for making Balkan political statements on the World Cup.
FIFA fined the Croatians 50,000 Swiss francs ($53,000) after the staff’s followers verbally abused and taunted Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who has Serbian household ties. The Serbian soccer federation was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($21,300) for a political banner about neighboring Kosovo displayed within the locker room earlier than enjoying Brazil within the staff’s opening recreation.
It confirmed a map of Serbia that included the territory of its former province, which has been an unbiased state for almost 15 years, and the slogan “No Give up.”
The Kosovo soccer federation formally complained to FIFA concerning the banner, which was hung over two Serbia gamers’ lockers on Nov. 24. FIFA stated the cost in opposition to Croatia associated to “use of phrases and objects to transmit a message that’s not acceptable for a sports activities occasion.”
Borjan was born in an ethnic Serbian area of Croatia. He and his household left their hometown in 1995 when it was taken by Croatian forces. The ethnic Serbs are stated to have fled on tractors.
Throughout Canada’s 4-1 loss on Nov. 27, one banner displayed by Croatia followers used a flag of tractor producer John Deere and adjusted the advertising and marketing slogan to focus on Borjan. FIFA additionally fined Saudi Arabia 30,000 Swiss francs ($32,000) for “staff misconduct” after getting six yellow playing cards in video games in opposition to Argentina and Mexico.