Croatia’s Vida in trouble again
Moscow, July 10: Fifa are investigating Croatia defender Domagoj Vida after a second video emerged where he shouts ‘ glory to Ukraine’ and ‘ Belgrade burns’ in footage that could further enrage World Cup hosts Russia, reported dailymail. co. uk.
Croatia have already apologised once on behalf of Vida after he appeared in a video alongside coach Ognjen Vukojevic, who dedicated Croatia’s World Cup quarter- final win over Russia to Ukraine.
Croatia’s Football Federation ( HNS) sacked Vukojevic on Monday.
Vukojevic and Croatia defender Domagoj Vida published the video on social media after the match on Saturday in a move which was criticised by Russian politicians and led to a warning from Fifa’s disciplinary committee.
Relations between Ukraine and World Cup hosts Russia remain fraught after the latter’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and its backing for a proRussian uprising in the east of the country.
Vida used to play for Dynamo Kiev and Vukojevic also played for the Ukrainian club and now works for them as a scout.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s football federation said it had offered a job to Vukojevic and offered to pay his fine over a proUkraine clip he posted during the World Cup.
“We decided to compensate Vukojevic from our personal funds the fine that he will have to pay,” Ukraine’s football federation chief Andriy Pavelko wrote on Facebook.
“In addition, we are ready to consider the options for cooperation of FFU with such a highclass specialist,” Pavelko said, in a post that included a picture of himself in a Croatia jersey.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s football governing body also sent a letter to Fifa chief Gianni Infantino saying that “Glory to Ukraine!... is not a discriminatory or far- right sign or symbol.”
It “should not be interpreted as an act of aggression or provocation,” the body said.
Meanwhile 160,000 angry internet users, mainly
Ukrainians, gave the Fifa official Facebook page a one- star review and commented “Glory to Ukraine!" or “Shame to Fifa!"