Police probe antisemitic Nazi chants by Hajduk Split fans before Conference League game
Croatian police are investigating antisemitic Nazi chants by Hajduk Split supporters in Split before their Conference League game against Ajax on Thursday. Video published online shows fans chanting about Auschwitz and in support of Adolf Hitler as they marched towards the stadium.
Footage shows a large supporters' march led by a yellow car carrying a coffin marked "Ajax" on its roof, and chants were heard outside the stadium. Ajax is historically associated with the Jewish community. The Croatian government said on X on Thursday: "We strongly condemn the unacceptable chants glorifying the Nazi regime that were recorded among a portion of fans before today's match in Split," and added: "Such shameful behaviour constitutes a negation of sport and the democratic values that modern Croatia cherishes."
Hajduk won the match 2-1, but play was stopped for around 10 minutes because of fireworks in the stands. The club finished second in Croatia's top flight last season. Children and accompanying adults were allowed to attend Croatia's recent internationals under restrictions imposed after earlier incidents.
Hajduk posted an apology on social media after the game but did not specifically mention any antisemitic chanting. "When situations like today happen, we are obliged to apologise to those who came to the stadium to cheer on the team that returned to European competitions after 16 years," it said. "We also apologise to the organiser of the competition and to the Ajax management and players who witnessed scenes we do not want Europe to remember us by."
Uefa has no jurisdiction over incidents away from the stadium but can take action if something happens in the stands or stadium precinct. Croatian football has previously faced sanctions over antisemitic and discriminatory behaviour. In 2015, the Croatian Football Federation apologised after a swastika was marked on the pitch before their Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy, and earlier this month Croatia's Nations League match against England was played under a stadium ban imposed following discriminatory behaviour by supporters against France last year.
Croatia's ombudswoman, Tena Simonovic Einwalter, an independent official appointed by parliament to safeguard human rights, described the chanting as a "manifestation of hatred and intolerance." "Unfortunately, instead of decreasing and stopping, such phenomena are spreading more freely and intensifying, which is not surprising after previous similar behaviours were met with insufficient reaction from high-ranking officials and competent bodies," said Simonovic Einwalter.
Local police told BBC Sport they had already made arrests in connection with yesterday's chants. They said several further individuals had been identified and were being tracked down.
