BORDEAUX (France), Sept 27: The 19,000-euro fine FIFA handed the Croatian Football Federation after Croat fans racially abused England striker Emile Heskey was not harsh enough, UEFA President Michel Platini said on Friday.

Platini said the fine paled into insignificance when compared to the overall image projected by football.

“We must try to be more severe on these recurrent problems while hoping they become less and less,” he said.

FIFA fined the Croatian FA on Thursday and warned that further infringements “would lead to more severe sanctions”.

En route to an eventual 4-1 victory for England in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month, Heskey was taunted with monkey chants from a section of the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb when he was booked for fouling Niko Kovac. England’s Football Association then took the case to FIFA.

It is not the first time Croatia’s fans have been sanctioned for racist abuse. Croatia had to pay a small fine during Euro 2008 for racist abuse from their fans during their game against Turkey.—AFP