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17th Jun 2016

This might explain why Croatian supporters threw flares onto the pitch

Beyond those who threw the flares being idiots

Robert Redmond

More unsavoury scenes at Euro 2016.

Croatian supporters disrupted Friday’s game against the Czech Republic. In the final minutes of the game, with Croatia leading 2-1, a number of flares were thrown onto the field, with one exploding in the face of an unfortunate steward, who was attempting to clear the pitch of the objects.

The incident appeared to prove costly to the Croatian team, who pleaded for calm from their supporters, and went on to concede an injury time penalty to draw the game.

Football writer Aleksandar Holiga attempted to offer some context to the incident, arguing it was something of a protest against the Croatian football authorities and another sign of the disharmony between supporters and the country’s football power brokers.

Whatever way you look at it, the scenes were inexcusable, but this does at least shine some light on the incident.

Croatia were fined and docked a point in qualifying for Euro 2016, after a swastika symbol was visible on their pitch in Split, and the country’s FA were fined for supporter’s racist chanting of Mario Balotelli during Euro 2012.