North Macedonia have made a formal complaint to Uefa following claims Marko Arnautovic shouted an offensive slur during their match against Austria at Euro 2020.
After scoring his country’s third goal in Sunday’s match, the former West Ham and Stoke City striker had to be restrained by teammate David Alaba as he celebrated aggressively in front of supporters. Alaba, who is Austria captain, was seen trying to close the forward’s mouth with his hand.
Reports in Serbia alleged that Arnautovic made a derogatory comment directed towards Albanians, with some of North Macedonia’s players – including Gjanni Alioski who was nearby – being of Albanian heritage.
It has been alleged in several reports that Arnautovic shouted: “I’m f***ing your Albanian mother.”
North Macedonia released a statement on Facebook on Monday condemning “the nationalistic outbreak of Austrian representative Marko Arnautovic, after a goal scored in yesterday’s match with Macedonia addressed to Macedonian representative Ezdjan Alioski.
“At the same time we inform you that we have submitted an official letter to Uefa demanding the harshest punishment for Austrian representative Marko Arnautovic. We are always against nationalism, discrimination and all other forms of insults and outbursts that are not in the spirit of football and values that we all stand together. We will always stand up and defend the interests and dignity of Macedonian national players wherever they perform.”
Arnautovic apologised on Instagram for his celebration but denied using racist language.
“There were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to APOLOGIZE [sic] — especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania,” he wrote.
“I would like to say one thing very clearly: I AM NOT A RACIST!
“I have friends in almost every country and I stand for diversity. Everyone who knows me is aware of that.”
Austria’s sporting director Peter Schottel defended the player after the match, insisting any comments made had simply been “trash talk” that were “nothing to be do with politics”.
i understands that Uefa has not yet launched any disciplinary action against Arnautovic.
History of tensions
Tensions between North Macedonians and ethnic Albanians in the small Balkan country erupted in 2001 when Albanians took up arms and fought with government forces, demanding more rights.
The conflict ended after seven months with a deal that granted more rights to Albanians.
Ethnic Albanian parties have been part of every government in the country since it declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
Serbia and ethnic Albanians have also been in conflict in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008.
Kosovo’s majority population are ethnic Albanians, and Serbia has never recognized the country’s independence.
Albania, Kosovo and Serbia all border North Macedonia.
In 2017, Serbia was angered by North Macedonia’s intention to support Kosovo’s membership in Unesco.
Additional reporting by AP
More from i on Euro 2020
- Eriksen’s collapse has thrown a spotlight on football and its relentless thirst for more
- ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ showing he has perfect blend of silk and steel to be a star
- Where Schick’s strike against Scotland ranks among greatest Euros goals
- Daniel Storey’s guide to all 24 teams – from hot favourites to no hopers
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3pZoxH1
Post a Comment