A steward holds a banana after picking it up off the pitch during the Euro 2012 football championships Group C match Italy v Croatia. -Photo by AFP

WARKA, Poland: Croatia stayed tight-lipped on Saturday over claims that their fans racially abused Italy's Mario Balotelli, saying they wanted to stay focussed on their crunch Euro 2012 fixture with Spain.

“We will make an announcement about that on our website,” team spokesman Davor Gauran told reporters at Croatia's training camp in the eastern Polish town of Warka.

“It is not a question for the players today before the crucial game,” he added.

European football's governing body UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian football federation, after witnesses said they heard Croat fans taunting Balotelli, who is black, and a banana was found on the pitch during Thursday's Group C clash.

The probe also concerned the display of racist symbols and the setting-off and throwing of fireworks at the match in Poznan, western Poland, which ended 1-1.

Missiles were also thrown and a spectator got on to the pitch during Croatia's 3-1 win against Ireland last Sunday in Poznan.

Croatia face Group C leaders Spain on Monday in the Baltic port of Gdansk.

If they beat the defending European champions, they will go top of the group and storm into the quarter-finals in style, though a draw should also put them through.

“We want to win,” said striker Nikica Jelavic, who scored in the opening 3-1 win over Ireland. “Like always, we want three points.”

We've never played against Spain. But we always see them on TV, they're similar to Barcelona. We need to be careful. We expect a tough game.”

“I think we have a good team as well, so it will be a good game and we expect a good result for us.”

Opinion

In defamation’s name

In defamation’s name

It provides yet more proof that the undergirding logic of public authority in Pakistan is legal and extra-legal coercion rather than legitimised consent.

Editorial

Mercury rising
Updated 27 May, 2024

Mercury rising

Each of the country's leaders is equally responsible for the deep pit Pakistan seems to have fallen into.
Antibiotic overuse
27 May, 2024

Antibiotic overuse

ANTIMICROBIAL resistance is an escalating crisis claiming some 700,000 lives annually in Pakistan. It is the third...
World Cup team
27 May, 2024

World Cup team

PAKISTAN waited until the very end to name their T20 World Cup squad. Even then, there was last-minute drama. Four...
ICJ rebuke
Updated 26 May, 2024

ICJ rebuke

The reason for Israel’s criminal behaviour is that it is protected by its powerful Western friends.
Hot spells
26 May, 2024

Hot spells

WITH Pakistan already dealing with a heatwave that has affected 26 districts since May 21, word from the climate...
Defiant stance
26 May, 2024

Defiant stance

AT a time when the country is in talks with the IMF for a medium-term loan crucial to bolstering the fragile ...