Hajduk Split Fans Arrested for Nazi Chants Before Ajax Match

Key points

• Police in Split arrested several Torcida members for chanting 'Trample the Jews' and 'Rise, Adolf' before the match.
• The chants occurred hours before Hajduk Split's UEFA Conference League game against Ajax, a club with historical Jewish connections.
• President Zoran Milanovic demanded sanctions, stating verbal condemnation is insufficient to address Nazism glorification.
• The Israeli embassy in Zagreb expressed shock and condemned the incident in the strongest terms.
• Hajduk Split won 2-1 but the match was halted for 12 minutes due to flares and firecrackers; the club apologized to UEFA and Ajax.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of extremist behavior by Croatian ultra-nationalist fans, including a 2015 swastika incident on the pitch that led to a UEFA point deduction. Recent archive coverage highlights broader issues of hostile fan behavior in football, such as Ronaldo's call for lifetime bans after taunts in Saudi Arabia and hostile chants against coach Lane Kiffin in the US, underscoring ongoing challenges in managing fan conduct globally.

How outlets are covering it

Balkan Insight and AP News emphasize the arrests and hate speech investigations, noting that all detainees are known Torcida members. Al Jazeera highlights the broader context of Croatia's pro-Nazi past and the Ustasha regime's historical persecution. The Israeli embassy and Croatian government focus on the need for decisive action and sanctions, while Hajduk Split's apology was criticized for not explicitly addressing the pre-match chants. All sources agree on the severity of the incident but differ in emphasis: some focus on legal consequences, others on historical context and diplomatic responses.

Why it matters

The incident underscores ongoing challenges in addressing antisemitism and extremist ideologies in European football, drawing international condemnation and highlighting the need for stronger enforcement of anti-hate speech measures in sports. It also reflects broader tensions in Croatia regarding its WWII past and the role of ultra-nationalist fan groups in public spaces.

What to watch

An investigating judge will decide on pre-trial detention for the arrested fans, with further arrests expected. UEFA may impose a heavy fine on Hajduk Split for the pyrotechnic disruptions. Authorities are expected to take decisive action to prevent similar incidents, as urged by President Milanovic and the Israeli embassy.