Croatia in trouble with FIFA

A DISCIPLINARY case was opened against Croatia after the team’s fans taunted a Canada player with Serbian family ties.

FIFA said the charge against the Croatian FA was “due to the behaviour of their fans” and cited rules relating to discrimination and security at games.

Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan was born in an ethnic Serbian region of Croatia that was part of the conflict which split the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Borjan’s family left their hometown in 1995 when it was taken by Croatian forces amid stories that ethnic Serbs fled on tractors.

During Canada’s 4-1 loss on Sunday, one banner displayed by Croatia fans used a flag of tractor manufacturer John Deere and changed the marketing slogan to target Borjan.

Borjan moved as a child with his family to Canada and chose to represent that country, though he plays for Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.

FIFA gave no timetable for a verdict in the case, which would typically be settled with a fine for the federation.