Bilic comdems Euro violence of fellow countrymen

Former Croatian head coach Slaven Bilic has condemned the actions of a minority of his fellow countrymen but warned this is an ongoing problem.

Mark Clattenburg had to stop yesterday’s Euro game between Croatia and Czech Republic for six minutes after flares were thrown on the pitch and fighting broke out among Croatian supporters. One flare appeared to explode in a steward’s face.

Bilic told BBC Sport “It’s very sad that now we have to talk about things that have nothing to do with football, in Milan and before it’s happened. It started maybe six, seven, eight years ago. There are many fans who are against the FA. Unfortunately they are doing this.”

“We are paying fines and playing games behind closed doors. We are probably the biggest Uefa sponsors.”

“It’s unbelievable what those people are doing themselves. There is a riot between themselves. The majority of fans are telling them don’t do it but unfortunately some of them are there on a mission. It’s probably not the last time they’ll do this.”

“The two biggest clubs from the ex-Yugoslavia are Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split and Dinamo is now becoming the biggest club in the Balkan area while Hajduk Split is without any money.”

“When there’s a big derby between Dinamo and Hajduk people don’t take their kids to the game because they know there’ll be fighting.”