ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s World Cup qualification celebrations have been marred by apparent pro-Nazi chants by fans and defender Joe Simunic.
Croatia qualified for the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Iceland on Tuesday. Video footage shows Simunic taking a microphone to the field after the match and shouting to the fans: “For the homeland!” The fans respond: “Ready!”
That was the war call used by the Croatian pro-Nazi puppet regime that ruled the state during World War II when tens of thousands Jews, Serbs and others perished in concentration camps.
The Australian-born Simunic defended his action, saying “some people have to learn some history.”
