UEFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Croatia, Northern Ireland, Romania, and Bosnia-Herzegovina
The UEFA announced today in a statement the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Federation for "racist behavior" and "inappropriate conduct of the team (for five or more cards)" in the qualification match for the 2016 Euro Cup last Friday against Italy in Split (1-1).
The organization, whose Control, Ethics and Discipline Committee will consider the case on July 16, does not specify the racist behavior, although on the field of play where the match was played - played behind closed doors due to racist chants in their previous match against Norway- a swastika appeared on the pitch.
The Croatian Football Federation, after the match, apologized "to all spectators, to the Italian visitors, and to the players of both teams for the Nazi symbol on the Poljud pitch."
UEFA also announced on Monday the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the football federations of Northern Ireland, "for the throwing of flares and objects", and Romania, "for illicit flags" and "incidents" of the public, during the qualifying match between both teams last Saturday in Belfast.
Similarly, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Football Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina for "disruption of the national anthem, throwing of flares and objects, and racist behavior," in the match last Friday against Israel in Zenica. These cases, like that of Croatia, will be reviewed on July 16.