FIFA "investigates" Croat footballer's fascist salute

ZAGREB Josip Simunic, a member of the Croatian football team, is reportedly under investigation by FIFA for the "controversial" way in which he celebrated a victory. Namely, after Croatia beat Iceland in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers earlier this week, Simunic took a microphone and several times shouted, "Za dom!" ("For home!"), to which the crowd in Zagreb responded, "Spremni!" ("Ready!"). FIFA "investigates" Croat footballer's fascist salute This phrase was used as a salute during the era of the fascist WW2 Independent State of Croatia (NHD) entity and its Ustasha regime, who were responsible for running death camps that were places of mass murder of Serbs, Jews, and Roma. The incident has met with condemnation in Croatia, and Zagreb's Jutarnji List daily writes that a FIFA spokesman said the organization was "investigating different reports filed by official delegates and collecting information," but that they "have no comment for the moment." The Croatian Olympic Committee, however, wrote to the government to condemn Simanic's outburst, and, as they said, "any form of endangerment of ethic and moral principles, human dignity, fair play, tolerance, and the culture of sport." Immediately after the incident, Simunic said that he was "not afraid," and that "if somebody was bothered, that was their problem." But the next day, he backtracked by saying that he "meant no harm," as the word "home" reminded him of "love, warmth, and positive fight." He also said he wished "to negate any political context," saying he was "guided solely by the love of the people and the homeland, and not hatred and destruction." Croatia's Minister of the Interior Ranko Ostojic, "speaking on his own behalf," said that he would "never do such a thing," and that "no amount of love for the homeland can be justification for Ustasha chants." Ostojic went on to explain that the police consulted with the Misdemeanor Court to determine there were no grounds to file minor charges against the footballer. He added that, nevertheless, the State Prosecution was sent a "special report" based on which they should determine if a criminal offense took place. President of the Serb National Council in Croatia Milorad Pupovac reacted to the incident by saying that Simunic's gesture was "disgraceful" and that "such things are punishable according to the Constitution and laws." Pupovac also stated that he expected the authorities to now "take certain steps." Josip Simunic, left (Beta/AP) B92 Tanjug

FIFA "investigates" Croat footballer's fascist salute

This phrase was used as a salute during the era of the fascist WW2 Independent State of Croatia (NHD) entity and its Ustasha regime, who were responsible for running death camps that were places of mass murder of Serbs, Jews, and Roma.

The incident has met with condemnation in Croatia, and Zagreb's Jutarnji List daily writes that a FIFA spokesman said the organization was "investigating different reports filed by official delegates and collecting information," but that they "have no comment for the moment."

The Croatian Olympic Committee, however, wrote to the government to condemn Šimanić's outburst, and, as they said, "any form of endangerment of ethic and moral principles, human dignity, fair play, tolerance, and the culture of sport."

Immediately after the incident, Šimunić said that he was "not afraid," and that "if somebody was bothered, that was their problem."

But the next day, he backtracked by saying that he "meant no harm," as the word "home" reminded him of "love, warmth, and positive fight."

He also said he wished "to negate any political context," saying he was "guided solely by the love of the people and the homeland, and not hatred and destruction."

Croatia's Minister of the Interior Ranko Ostojić, "speaking on his own behalf," said that he would "never do such a thing," and that "no amount of love for the homeland can be justification for Ustasha chants."

Ostojić went on to explain that the police consulted with the Misdemeanor Court to determine there were no grounds to file minor charges against the footballer. He added that, nevertheless, the State Prosecution was sent a "special report" based on which they should determine if a criminal offense took place.

President of the Serb National Council in Croatia Milorad Pupovac reacted to the incident by saying that Šimunić's gesture was "disgraceful" and that "such things are punishable according to the Constitution and laws."

Pupovac also stated that he expected the authorities to now "take certain steps."