Croatia’s preparation in the build-up to the World Cup semi-final against England received a huge jolt, after coaching assistant Ognjen Vukojevic was sacked for posting a politically-charged video on social media, on the aftermath of their 4-3 victory over hosts Russia on Saturday.
The 34-year-old former Croatia international recorded a video with defender Domagoj Vida after the game, in which both men could be seen controversially dedicating the win to Ukraine.
“The Croatian Football Federation hereby notifies the public that Ognjen Vukojevic has been relieved of his duties as an associate of the coaching staff of the Croatian national team by decision of the management of the Croatian FA, and that he will no longer be a member of the Croatian delegation at the FIFA World Cup in Russia,” the organisation said in a statement as quoted by The Independent.
“The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has decided to revoke Vukojevic’s team accreditation at the FIFA World Cup and to relieve him of his duties as an observer for the Croatian national team.
“HNS hereby apologizes to the Russian public for the actions of a member of the Croatian delegation. Ognjen Vukojevic and Domagoj Vida likewise apologize for their statements, which were in no way intended to have political connotations, yet which unfortunately left room for such interpretations,” the statement added.
The video posted on facebook and youtube received a lot of flak by the FIFA and was subject to hug criticism in Russia. Defender Vida who scored an extra-time goal against the host nation, was warned by the apex football body.
Vukojevic was however sacked by the Croatia Football Federation for his actions.
In the video Vida could be heard shouting, ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ a chant widely used during the 2014 revolution, when president Viktor Yanukovych was thrown out of power and since then the slogan has been adopted by Ukrainian ultra-nationalists.
Vukojevic said in the video “This victory is for Dynamo [Kiev] and Ukraine.”
Interestingly, Vukojevic last year was appointed as a scout by Dynamo Kiev, a club where Vida spent five seasons before joining Turkish giants Besiktas in January.
The defender later put out a statement saying, “There’s no politics in football. It’s a joke for my friends from Dynamo Kiev. I love Russians and I love Ukrainians,” as quoted by The Independent.
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Controversial celebrations however is nothing new at the 2018 World Cup. Switzerland players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka were earlier fined £7,600 each, for making Eagle shaped gestures while celebrating their goals, in the 2-1 win over Serbia.
The gesture was clearly an indication to their Albanian ancestry, which with Serbia was earlier a part of Soviet Union.