A bitter taste remained in the mouths of everyone who watched the match between Montenegro and Croatia at Gorica last night. Derogatory chants, Ustasha salutes, offensive banners – that came from the Croatian stands. Long-time journalist for Television Vijesti Aleksandar Radović is sure that this is the image and character of the Croatian minority, which is, unfortunately, too noisy. Condemnation of this behavior is pouring out from official Podgorica, while Zagreb is silent, and even the coach of the Croatian national team did not want to say a word about it.
A meeting of two sports rivals, on and off the field - this is what a better view of last night's match between Montenegro and Croatia looks like.
"It was nice to see Stevan Jovetić, Ivan Perišić talking before the match, Nikola Krstović, Pongračić, Pašalić also hanging out before the match, Milić with Dinamo players Joško Guardiola. It was nice to see them after the match, all the players practically gathered around each other, exchanging jerseys, impressions, congratulating each other. And that's a phenomenal picture and that's how sport should look," said Radović.
That's how it should be, but unfortunately, fair play fell into the background under Gorica. The ugly side of the medal showed the lowest passions and lack of sportsmanship as Croatian fans chanted "Kill a Serb" and "Ready for the homeland" on several occasions, to which our fans responded with whistles.
"A beautiful sporting event that was spoiled by a group of Croatian national team fans. It's a so-called noisy minority, I'm sure of that, but a minority that ultimately creates an opinion about an event, unfortunately perhaps also about a people or nation, but that's how it is obviously in our region," said Radović.
And the Croatian coach didn't even bother to explain that it wasn't like that and that it shouldn't be like that.
"I can only thank you for the welcome, everything was great, and don't talk to me about this anymore," said Zlatko Dalić, Croatia's coach.
On the other hand, Croatian Nova TV commentator Saša Lugonjić did not hesitate to speak out against the chauvinistic cries, calling them shameful and scandalous.
Meanwhile, condemnatory reactions are pouring in from Podgorica.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić says that such incidents are a warning that wrong ideologies in the region never stand still. The fascist chants were condemned by Deputy Prime Minister Ervin Ibrahimović and Minister of Sports Dragoslav Šćekić, and the president of the Croatian Civic Initiative Adrijan Vuksanović also spoke out, saying that the Montenegrin fans, along with the players of both teams, deserved respect, and that the behavior of the Croatian fans was shameful and condemnable.
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The leader of URE, Dritan Abazović, thinks the same.
"Fascism and nationalism have no place in sports, no place in the stands, no place anywhere. This is a consequence of the politics that have existed here, especially in the last 30 years, some things have been swept under the carpet before, and I hope that some new generations will manage to change things on the field," said Abazović.
And sport cries out for the final overcoming of divisions and the avoidance of the fuses that are easily ignited in this region.
"It's been 30 years since the end of the war, a painful, bloody war, and the wounds are certainly big, and all of that is for sadness and for respect for the victims, and so on and so forth, but imagine, Tijana, that in 75, 30 years after World War II, things like this were happening, for example, in Poland when Germany was visiting, or in France when Germany was visiting, or in England when Germany was visiting," Radović said.
The chanting of Croatian fans was condemned by the non-governmental organizations Human Rights Action and the Center for Civic Education, who believe that such behavior must be sanctioned, first by the state, and then by UEFA and FIFA, because, as Radović says, one thing is more important than all else.
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"Let's put aside what was, let's build a better future," said Radović.
And that this future is in sight was demonstrated by the home fans – who passed with the highest grade last night.
Bonus video:
