Croatia and Kosovo could face fines over extremist chants by their fans at the World Cup qualifier they played in Shkodra, Albania on Wednesday, according to local media, dpa reported. During the match, which Croatia won 6-0, both sets of fans reportedly chanted anti-Serbian slogans, Croatia fans in Serbo-Croatian and Kosovo fans in Albanian. "Both the Kosovo football organization, but also the Croatian, now face FIFA fines," the daily 24Sata said. The Croatian football association HNS condemned the "inappropriate chanting that is not in line with the European spirit of tolerance and respect," urging the fans to support their team with fairness. "The HNS distances itself and sharply condemns the action os a small number of individuals which inflicts direct damage to the already delicate status of Croatian football with FIFA and UEFA die to fan behaviour," it said in a statement posted on its website. The match was played in Albania because Kosovo has no stadiums up to standard of the world football organization. Little love is lost between nations that emerged from the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s and the hatred routinely spills to sport arenas, leading to brawls and, ultimately, sanctions.
