UEFA THROW THE BOOK AT EURO 2024 STAR AFTER BREAKING FOUR RULES DURING MATCH
Albania forward Mirlind Daku has been banned for their next two matches after breaking a total of four rules which UEFA say brought football into disrepute.
Daku, who plays for Russian club Rubin Kazan, landed himself in hot water while celebrating Albania's late 2-2 draw with Croatia in Hamburg on Wednesday. The 26-year-old striker took hold of a megaphone and led derogatory chants about Serbia and North Macedonia following the Euro 2024 Group B fixture.
UEFA subsequently opened an investigation and have now judged that Daku was guilty of "failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute."
North Macedonia's football federation also demanded an apology from Daku, who said on Friday: "Apologising is manly, and I feel a moral and professional obligation to do so, for all those who have been hurt. Like any footballer, in those moments the emotions are on another level, which can only be understood on the field.
"It is difficult to describe the feeling of playing for this national team, for these wonderful fans who give us unlimited love."
Daku will now be forced to sit out Monday's final group game against Spain and if Albania were to advance to the round-of-16, he'd also been suspended. The Rubin Kazan star made his debut for Albania last year, having used his right under FIFA rules to switch his allegiance from Kosovo, the ethnic-Albanian former province of Serbia which declared independence 16 years ago.
Meanwhile, the Croatian federation have been ordered to pay a total of €28,000 (£24,000) for lighting and throwing fireworks during Wednesday's match. UEFA have also ordered the Albanian football federation to pay fines totalling €47,500 (£40,000) for incidents during the game.
In addition, their supporters reportedly chanted an anti-Serb slogan and said "kill the Serbs." Serbia, who were England's first Group C opponents, have threatened to quit the tournament unless action is taken. UEFA noted in their press release: "Please be aware that the investigation/proceedings in relation to potential racist and/or discriminatory conducts by supporters in this match is ongoing."
The Albanian federation (FSHF) called on fans to be "accountable and avoid incidents and riots." A statement added: "The FSHF invites fans and football lovers to support to the end the Albanian national team in this magical and historic path in Euro 2024 by showing citizenry and accountability through correct behaviour and by respecting the rules and the opponents."
Albania started their campaign with a narrow 2-1 loss to Italy, meaning that they're currently third in their group on goal difference and would almost certainly qualify for the knockout phase with an historic victory over Spain. Monday's match in Dusseldorf kicks off at 8pm, as does Croatia versus Italy in Leipzig.
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2024-06-23T16:19:53Z dg43tfdfdgfd