Football governing body FIFA fined a member of the Croatian national team’s coaching staff for participating in an allegedly political video of support for conflict-hit Ukraine after Croatia defeated Russia at the World Cup.
FIFA on Monday fined Croatian national team assistant coach Ognjen Vukojevic for participating in a video posted on social media declaring support for Ukraine, which has sparked angry reactions from Russian politicians.
World football’s governing body, which forbids any political statements, fined Vukojevic 15,000 Swiss francs (12,880 euros) for his involvement.
In the video, which was posted after Croatia knocked Russia out of the World Cup on Saturday, Vukojevic and Croatian defender Domagoj Vida declare: “Glory to Ukraine!”
Both Vukojevic and Vida have spent part of their careers in Ukraine, which is locked in a bitter dispute with World Cup hosts Russia over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and its involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
FIFA said the fine took into account Vukojevic’s public apology and his sacking by the Croatian Football Association, HNS, which also issued an apology.
“HNS hereby apologises to the Russian public for the actions of a member of the Croatian delegation,” the HNS said in a statement on Monday.
“Ognjen Vukojevic and Domagoj Vida likewise apologise for their statements, which were in no way intended to have political connotations, yet which unfortunately left room for such interpretations,” it added.
Vida will not face a penalty for the video but has been warned by FIFA.
The HNS has been penalised twice already during this year’s World Cup.
The first penalty of 13,000 Swiss francs (11,300 euros) was imposed because Croatian fans were involved in fighting and threw objects onto the pitch during the match against Argentina.
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