Croatia's Josip Simunic in action during the 2-0 World Cup play-off second-leg win against Iceland. Photograph: Darko Bandic/AP
Croatia qualified for the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Iceland on Tuesday. 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."
The same chant coupled with the Nazi salute has often been used by Croatian fans in the past. Fifa and Uefa have had to fine the Croatian Football Association because of their behaviour. There was no immediate reaction from Fifa to the latest incident.
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