Seven Croatian football fans were arrested in Paris for performing Nazi salutes during the France-Croatia match.
About 300 Croatian fans marched to the stadium before the game, with some singing patriotic songs, making Nazi salutes and setting off smoke bombs, domestic media reported.
Seven Croatian football supporters have been arrested for performing Nazi salutes during Sunday’s Nations League match at Stade de France, according to French police.
Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez confirmed on Monday that the arrests were made as a result of heightened security measures during the France-Croatia match in Saint-Denis, just north of the French capital.
“Sport is and must remain a celebration,” he said in a statement on social media. “These individuals have no business in a sports arena.”
While the Paris police prefecture did not initially disclose which team the supporters belonged to, the Croatian state news agency reported that all seven individuals detained were Croatian citizens.
According to HINA, citing police sources, a group of around 300 Croatian fans marched towards the stadium before kick-off, some singing patriotic songs, performing Nazi salutes and setting off smoke bombs.
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Once inside the stadium, several supporters were seen repeating the Nazi gesture during the Croatian national anthem and again during the first half of the match.
Firecrackers and flares were also ignited in the Croatian supporters’ section, authorities said.
HINA also reported that police found “iron rods, telescopic batons, sharp wooden sticks and smoke bombs” in the possession of some of the fans.
However, after the final whistle, fans dispersed calmly, and the buses transporting them departed the venue without any disturbances.
Last year, UEFA fined Croatia and six other football federations for racist and discriminatory behaviour by fans during the European Championship games.
Croatia received the largest fine — €50,000 — for incidents at all three of its matches.
