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Croatian Police Arrest 12 Over Pro-Nazi Chants at Ajax Match in Split

Incident draws widespread condemnation, highlights unresolved far-right tensions

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Croatian police arrested at least a dozen Hajduk Split football fans on Friday after thousands of supporters shouted anti-Semitic slogans, chanted in praise of Adolf Hitler, and clashed with police before a UEFA Conference League match against the Dutch team Ajax in Split. The arrests came as President Zoran Milanovic and the government condemned the glorification of Nazism and called for punishment.

Police in Split arrested 12 fans on charges of inciting violence and hatred, a day after unruly supporters held an anti-Semitic rally before Thursday night's match. The fans marched behind a car carrying a mock coffin emblazoned with the Ajax name, a club long associated with Amsterdam's Jewish community. The demonstration forced a 12-minute interruption of the match after flares and objects were thrown onto the pitch. Hajduk Split went on to win 2-1 in its first major European match in 16 years.

President Milanovic urged "measures and sanctions that will show that there is no place for glorification of Nazism in Croatia." The Croatian Football Association said the incident damaged the country's football image and was "completely opposed to the basic values of sports: mutual respect, tolerance and togetherness." The Israeli embassy in Zagreb said it was "deeply shocked" by the outburst.

Milorad Pupovac, the political leader of ethnic Serbs in Croatia, who were the victims of the country's World War II pro-Nazi regime, stated the incident was "just a question of time." The Croatian government has long faced accusations of tolerating a rise in nationalist and far-right sentiment, which it denies. Hajduk Split could face disciplinary action from UEFA over the match disruption.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The incident places the rise of far-right extremism in Croatian society under an international spotlight, testing the government's commitment to confronting Nazi glorification.
  • It highlights the deep historical wounds from World War II that remain unresolved in the Balkans, affecting relations with Jewish and ethnic Serb communities.
  • The strong official reaction may signal a turning point in how Croatian institutions handle nationalist demonstrations at sporting events.

Background

Croatia's World War II-era pro-Nazi regime (Ustasha) collaborated with the Nazis and operated concentration camps where tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascist Croats perished. In recent years, some nationalist groups have revived symbols and slogans from this era. The Croatian government has faced accusations of tolerating this rise in far-right sentiment, a charge it has consistently denied.

Key Perspectives

[Croatian Government and President]: Strongly condemned the chants and demanded punishment, with President Milanovic stating firmly that there was no place for Nazi glorification in the country. [Ethnic Serb and Jewish Communities]: Expressed deep shock and a sense of inevitability. Milorad Pupovac stated the incident was "just a question of time," reflecting longstanding concerns over rising nationalism. [Football Authorities (UEFA and CFA)]: Emphasized that the behaviour violated the basic values of sports and damaged Croatia's football image, with UEFA potentially levying sanctions against Hajduk Split.

What to Watch

  • Whether UEFA proceeds with disciplinary action against Hajduk Split for the crowd disturbance.
  • The scale of further arrests and whether charges result in convictions under Croatia's hate speech laws.
  • Broader policy responses from the Croatian government to address the resurgence of far-right symbolism.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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