A member of the Russian lower house's Committee for Physical Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth Affairs Dmitry Svishchev told Sputnik on Tuesday that it was necessary to "demand proper punishment" for both Croatia team members for their controversial comments following their victory over Russia at the World Cup.
Croatia beat hosts Russia on penalties in the quarter-finals on Saturday. On Saturday night, a video showing Croatia defender Domagoj Vida shouting "Glory to Ukraine!" and coaching assistant Ognjen Vukojevic saying "This is a victory for Dynamo [Kiev] and Ukraine" appeared on social media. Both of them previously played for Dynamo.
Vukojevic was suspended from his duties at the World Cup by the Croatian Football Federation and fined $15,000 for unsporting behavior by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, while Vida was handed a warning, avoiding a ban that would rule him out of the England semi-final. On Monday, a fresh video showing Vida saying "Glory to Ukraine!" was posted online.
"This is not a normal practice. Of course, we understand why one of them was fined, while the other was just warned - one... was just a member of the delegation, while the other is playing [for Croatia]... Football players are big boys... I think if it is a childish prank, they deserve punishment. If it is a planned political action, they also deserve punishment. I think we should demand proper punishment for both athletes," Svishchev said.
Croatia will face 1966 champions England in the semi-finals in Moscow on Wednesday.
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