UEFA has fined the Croatian Football Federation $100,000 after its supporters hurled racist remarks on Italy’s Mario Balotelli at last Thursday’s Group C match in Poznan, western Poland.
European football’s governing body said the fine was imposed “for the setting-off and throwing of fireworks and the improper conduct of supporters (racist chants, racist symbols)”, AFP reported.
”An appeal can be lodged against this decision within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision,” a statement on the organisation’s website said.
The case was being eyed closely given UEFA president Michel Platini’s repeated assertion that they have a “zero tolerance” to any racism and football-related violence.
Platini this week also expressed outrage at the situation, telling reporters that he had warned the Croatian football federation about the possibility of racist chanting last year.
The case against Croatia was the first for racism in Euro 2012 and followed separate claims that Spanish fans racially abused Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian origin, and that Russian fans taunted the Ethiopian-Czech Theodor Gebre Selassie.
Croatia were reported to UEFA after a racism monitoring body said that up to 500 fans were involved in racist chanting throughout the match, which finished 1-1.
Croatia had previously been fined 25,000 euros after fans lit flares and let off smoke bombs during their opening match against the Republic of Ireland, also in Poznan, on June 10.
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