[ad_1]
Croatia's Football Federation (HNS) sacked Ognjen Vukojević, a member of the national team's coaching staff, over a "glory to Ukraine" video posted after Croatia beat Russia in the World Cup quarter-finals, HNS said in a statement on Monday .
Vukojevic and Croatia defender Domagoj Vida published the video on social media after the match on Saturday in a move which was criticized by Russian politicians and led to a warning from FIFA's disciplinary committee.
Relations between the Ukraine and the World Cup hosts the rest of the world in the aftermath of the 1945 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and its backing for a pro-Russian uprising in the east of the country.
HNS said it had revoked Vukojevic's accreditation at the World Cup and relieved him of his duties as an observer for the Croatia squad.
"HNS hereby apologizes to the Russian public for the actions of a member of the Croatian delegation," it said.
HNS said Vukojevic and Vida apologized for their statements, saying that they were not intended to be politically motivated by the words "unfortunately left room for such interpretations".
Both Vukojevic and the 29-year-old Vida previously played for Ukrainian Dynamo Kiev club.
Croatia face England in the semi-finals World Cup in Moscow on Wednesday.
Mario Mandzukic and Andrej Kramaric spoke in the debate on a conference in Moscow later on Monday.
"We have been quite clear on the matter, that is the position of the federation and we do not need to ask the players," to Croatia team spokesman said.
FIFA later handed Vukojevic a fine of 15,000 Swiss francs ($ 15,000) and a warning for unsporting behavior, adding that the badistant coach had apologized for his actions.
You can follow the FIFA World Cup all the way with RTÉ. RTÉ.ie and the News Now App, with all remaining live games RTÉ television and RTÉ Player.
[ad_2]
Source link
