Hajduk Split fans chant Nazi slogans before Ajax match

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 15:38 · Archive

Croatian police are investigating antisemitic and pro-Nazi chanting by Hajduk Split supporters before their UEFA Conference League match against Ajax on Thursday. Groups of fans marched through Split before the game, with footage showing chants including 'Crush the Jews', 'Rise up Adolf' and references to the Ustasha, the country's World War II pro-Nazi regime. A large supporters' march was led by a vehicle carrying a coffin marked 'Ajax' on its roof. The Amsterdam club is historically associated with the Jewish community.

Croatia's government strongly condemned the behaviour, with President Zoran Milanovic calling it 'unacceptable and shameful' and urging swift action against perpetrators. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the chants were 'completely at odds with the values we want to uphold in Croatian society'. Croatia's ombudswoman described it as a 'manifestation of hatred and intolerance'. Israel's embassy in Zagreb said it was 'deeply shocked' and condemned the incident in the strongest terms.

Hajduk Split won the match 2-1, but play was stopped for around 10 minutes because of fireworks in the stands. Dozens of fans were detained before and after the match. Police said arrests had been made and other individuals had been identified and were being tracked down. Hajduk Split apologised to UEFA and Ajax after the game, though the club did not specifically mention the antisemitic chanting in its statement.

How it is being reported

• Croatian soccer fans arrested over anti-Semitic slurs during match with Amsterdam teamPolice in Split, Croatia, have arrested at least a dozen Hajduk Split soccer fans after an anti-Semitic rally and clashes with officers disrupted a match against Ajax AmsterdamIndependent World · 16 Oct, 15:39
• Police investigating antisemitic Nazi chants from Hajduk Split fansFootage shows Hajduk supporters chanting outside the stadium about Auschwitz and Adolf Hitler before their Conference League match against Ajax.BBC Sport · 16 Oct, 15:22
• Pro-Nazi chants before Ajax match slammed by Croatia leadersCroatia's Hajduk Split hosted Ajax on Thursday, but chants for pre-World War II regime precede UEFA Europa League game.Al Jazeera · 16 Oct, 13:42

In this story: Hajduk Split · Ajax · Croatia · Split · Zoran Milanovic · Andrej Plenkovic · Israel

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