Simunic to miss World Cup after pro-Nazi chant

Croatia defender Josip Simunic will miss the World Cup after being banned for 10 matches by Fifa for shouting a fascist salute following his team’s play-off victory over Iceland last month.

Fifa last night confirmed Simunic’s ban will start at the World Cup in Brazil, and also announced he will be banned from entering the stadium for any of the country’s matches.

Simunic has also been ordered to pay a fine of 30,000 Swiss francs (around €24,000).

The ban was branded “draconian” by Croatia’s Football Federation (HNS) executive chairman Damir Vrbanovic, who said the HNS would support an appeal but was already planning for the World Cup without the 105-times capped player.

The ban could effectively end the 35-year-old’s international career.

The incident came after Croatia’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Iceland in Zagreb on November 19, a match Croatia won 2-0 to secure their place in Brazil.

The Dinamo Zagreb captain was captured on video using a microphone to lead chants which were found to have associations with Croatia’s former pro-Nazi Ustase regime.

A Fifa statement said: “The committee took note that the player, together with the crowd, shouted a Croatian salute that was used during World War II by the fascist ‘Ustase’ movement.

“After taking into account all the circumstances, and particularly given the gravity of the incident, the committee decided to suspend the player for 10 official matches.”

Simunic had used the phrase: “For the homeland”. Croatian fans replied by shouting: “Ready”. But the 35-year-old, who was born and grew up in Australia, said he was horrified to have been accused of discrimination.