Croat club president in "youthful pro-Nazi indiscretion"

A 32-year-old president of a Croatian football club has confirmed that photos showing him wearing an Ustasha cap were "authentic". Hrvoje Males, president of the Split-based FK Hajduk, said in a statement the image "did not represent his personal views or himself as an individual in any way whatsoever". Croat club president in "youthful pro-Nazi indiscretion" Rather, said he, it was "the result of his youthful indiscretions". The Ustasha regime was in power in the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia (NDH) during the Second World War. They were responsible for mass killings of Serbs, Jews and Roma in death camps such as Jasenovac. "I was surprised to see the publication of the photo with me wearing the Ustasha cap and the media reports about it. Although the photo is authentic, it does not represent my views or me as a person in any way," Males stated. "I am not burdened by the past and I do not advocate any ideology. On the contrary, I was brought up in the Christian spirit, in a family which was always calling for tolerance and respect for people of other nationalities, races and religions," the statement continued. He also apologized to anyone who "may have been offended in any way" by the evidence of his "youthful indiscretions". The story of the Ustasha cap on Males's head is being investigated by the city's police, says Tanjug news agency. "We will find out about the authenticity of the photo and determine whether there are any criminal or civil liabilities in consultation with the relevant prosecutor's office," spokeswoman for the police department of the city of Split Marina Kraljevic-Gudelj told reporters.

Croat club president in "youthful pro-Nazi indiscretion"

Rather, said he, it was "the result of his youthful indiscretions".

The Ustasha regime was in power in the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia (NDH) during the Second World War. They were responsible for mass killings of Serbs, Jews and Roma in death camps such as Jasenovac.

"I was surprised to see the publication of the photo with me wearing the Ustasha cap and the media reports about it. Although the photo is authentic, it does not represent my views or me as a person in any way," Maleš stated.

"I am not burdened by the past and I do not advocate any ideology. On the contrary, I was brought up in the Christian spirit, in a family which was always calling for tolerance and respect for people of other nationalities, races and religions," the statement continued.

He also apologized to anyone who "may have been offended in any way" by the evidence of his "youthful indiscretions".

The story of the Ustasha cap on Maleš's head is being investigated by the city's police, says Tanjug news agency.

"We will find out about the authenticity of the photo and determine whether there are any criminal or civil liabilities in consultation with the relevant prosecutor's office," spokeswoman for the police department of the city of Split Marina Kraljević-Gudelj told reporters.