FIFA launch probe into Croatian fans’s behavior

FIFA's disciplinary chiefs have opened investigations into the behaviour of some Croatia supporters and their abuse of Canada's goalkeeper Milan Borjan during their Group F game on Sunday.

Borjan was targeted by banners, songs, and a tirade of verbal insults based on his ethnicity during a 4-1 defeat, which condemned the Canadians to an exit from the World Cup after the group stage.

The 35-year-old, who plays for Red Star Belgrade, also revealed that his phone number had been leaked online, leading to hundreds of insulting and abusive messages.

Borjan is of Serbian heritage, born in what is now Croatia when it was still a unified Yugoslavia and forced to flee as a child with his family in 1995 during the Balkan Wars. They later moved to Canada, where he launched his football career.

He said Croatia's players had been supportive after the final whistle and he had the dignity to wish them well in the competition.

Canada, having lost their opening two games, cannot progress to the last 16 and will go home after their final game against Morocco.

FIFA said on Tuesday: 'The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Croatia Football Federation due to the behaviour of its fans on the occasion of the Croatia v. Canada FIFA World Cup match played on 27 November.

Agencies