The Guardian reports Defender Josip Simunic celebrated Croatia’s 2-0 home defeat of Iceland — which qualified the hosts for next summer’s World Cup — with a chant over the stadium tannoy that has some rather grim origins.
Video footage shows Simunic taking a microphone to the field after the match and shouting to the fans: “For the homeland!” The fans respond: “Ready!” That was the war call used by Ustashas, the Croatian pro-Nazi puppet regime that ruled the state during the second world war when tens of thousands of people perished in concentration camps.
The Australian-born Simunic defended his action, saying: “Some people have to learn some history. I’m not afraid. I did nothing wrong. I’m supporting my Croatia, my homeland. If someone has something against it, that’s their problem.”