FIFA has fined the Croatian soccer federation 50,000 Swiss francs (CDN$72,500) after supporters of the team verbally abused and taunted Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan during a match at the World Cup.
FIFA said the charge against Croatia related to “the use of words and objects to convey a message which is not appropriate for a sporting event”.
Borjan was born in an ethnic Serbian region of Croatia. He and his family left their hometown in 1995 when it was taken by Croatian forces. The ethnic Serbs reportedly fled in tractors.
Football World Cup: Croatia indicted for the taunts of the supporters towards the Canadian goalkeeper
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In Canada’s 4-1 loss on November 27, a banner unfurled by Croatian supporters used a flag of tractor manufacturer John Deere and changed the marketing slogan to target Borjan.
Borjan was 13 when his family moved to Canada – first to Winnipeg, then to Hamilton a year later. He plays in his football club for the famous Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.
The 35-year-old has won 72 caps for Canada.
FIFA also fined the Serbian football federation 20,000 Swiss francs ($29,000) for a political banner about neighboring Kosovo displayed in the locker room before facing Brazil in the opening game of the team.
It showed a map of Serbia which included the territory of its former province, which has been an independent state for almost 15 years, and the slogan “No surrender”.
Kosovo’s football federation has formally complained to FIFA about the banner, which was hung above the lockers of two Serbian players on 24 November.
FIFA has also fined Saudi Arabia 30,000 Swiss francs ($43,500) for “team fouls” after receiving six yellow cards in matches against Argentina and Mexico.
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