FIFA warns Croatian defender
FIFA issued a warning to Croatia defender Domagoj Vida over a video he made praising Ukraine after his team beat Russia at the World Cup.
FIFA said in a statement that “we can confirm that FIFA’s disciplinary committee has sent a warning to the player Domagoj Vida due to his video statement following the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between Russia and Croatia.”
The video shows Vida shouting “glory to Ukraine” before the retired ex-player Ognjen Vukojevic adds “this win is for Dynamo and Ukraine ... go Croatia.”
Vida and Vukojevic played together at Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev. Tensions have been high since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
The warning without a match sanction should mean Vida is available for Croatia’s World Cup semifinal against England Wednesday in Moscow.
Coach fired
Fernando Hierro’s brief tenure as Spain’s national team coach ended after less than a month in charge and a disappointing four-game run at the World Cup.
Hierro was promoted from sporting director to the top job two days before Spain opened the tournament againstPortugal. New federation president Luis Rubiales was incensed that previous coach Julen Lopetegui had agreed to take charge at Real Madrid after the World Cup without giving the federation sufficient notice. Lopetegui summarily was fired despite a 20-game unbeaten streak that had made Spain one of the favorites coming into the tournament.
Spain drew with Portugal and Morocco and beat Iran to get out of their group, then lost to Russia on penalties in the Round of 16.
Player retires
Defender Sergei Ignashevich, 38, announced his retirement after Russia lost to Croatia in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Ignashevich holds the Russian record for most international appearances with 127 and his last act on the pitch was to convert a penalty in a shootout loss Saturday to Croatia.
“I feel pleasure and peace because I’m finishing on a high note by playing at the World Cup, in a quarterfinal with an excellent team and an excellent coach,” he said in a video statement released by the Russian team.
He added that he would have retired as professional footballer earlier if not for the World Cup and now plans to become a coach.
Ignashevich started all five of the host nation’s games at the World Cup, as Russia generally played a deep defensive line which compensated for his lack of speed. He won the UEFA Cup with CSKA Moscow in 2005, as well as six Russiantitles, five with CSKA and onewith Lokomotiv Moscow.
Pope offers solace
Pope Francis is trying to cheer up Brazilian soccer fans after the team’s quarterfinal exit from the World Cup. The pope, an Argentine and an avid soccer fan, noted a preponderance of Brazilian flags on display in St. Peter’s Square at his traditional Sunday blessing. He told the crowd: “I see a lot of Brazilian flags: Have courage! There’ll bea next time.”