Sport

Simunic banned for fascist salute

CROATIA defender Josip Simunic will miss the World Cup after being banned for 10 matches for shouting a fascist salute following his team's play-off victory over Iceland last month.

Fifa yesterday confirmed Simunic's ban will start at the World Cup in Brazil, and also announced he will be banned from entering the stadium for any of the country's matches.

Simunic (above) has also been ordered to pay a fine of 30,000 Swiss francs (£20,700). The ban could signal the end of the 35-year-old's international career. The incident came after Croatia's World Cup qualifying playoff against Iceland in Zagreb on November 19, a match Croatia won 2-0 in order to secure their place in Brazil.

The Dinamo Zagreb captain was captured on video using a microphone to lead chants which were found to have associations with Croatia's former pro-Nazi Ustase regime.

After disciplinary proceedings were opened against Simunic on November 22, a Dinamo statement denied any intent to make a political statement but confirmed that Simunic had used the phrase: "For the homeland". Croatian fans replied by shouting: "Ready".