Croatia’s players and Coach Niko Kovac were stunned by a swastika etched into the turf for their Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.
At first it looked as if the symbol had been mowed in, but it’s now reported a slow-acting grass killing chemical was poured on during the night.
The game, which ended 1-1 in Split, was played behind closed doors due to previous crowd trouble and racist chanting.
Croatia’s players and Coach Niko Kovac were stunned by a swastika etched into the turf for their Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.
At first it looked as if the symbol had been mowed in, but it’s now reported a slow-acting grass killing chemical was poured on during the night.
The game, which ended 1-1 in Split, was played behind closed doors due to previous crowd trouble and racist chanting.
At this point, it seems inevitable Croatia will be penalised by another match behind closed doors.
“Unfortunately, as players we are unable to do anything about this. We feel impotent in the situation,” said Ivan Rakitic.
“It becomes difficult to play in these conditions. We have to focus on what’s going on during the game and target Euro 2016 qualification.”
The match was played at the Stadion Poljud, the home stadium of Hajduk Split.
Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic pointed out this is part of an on-going feud between a group of ultras and the Croatian Federation.
“We are the ones who are being damaged by all this.”
When Croatia played Italy at San Siro in November 2014, that encounter had to be suspended twice due to trouble caused by the visiting fans.
Coach Kovac shrugged off questions about the swastika after the game, but promised “we will definitely talk about this later.”
A spokesman for the Croatian Federation publicly apologised to Italy for the offensive symbol.
“What happened is shameful not just for Croatian football, but for the whole country,” said Tomislav Bacek.
“We reported the incident to UEFA. We apologise to Italy and to everybody.”
Even though Croatia-Italy was played behind closed doors, there was still a row of police vans outside the stadium and fireworks were seen being launched over the arena before kick-off.