FIFA punishes Croatia and orders part closure of stadium for next match

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has handed down sanctions to the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) following incidents involving a section of supporters during the recent European qualifier against Montenegro for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The match, played in Zagreb on 8 September, saw part of the crowd engage in discriminatory behaviour.

As a result, HNS has been fined 30,000 Swiss francs and must play its next FIFA-sanctioned home fixture with a reduced capacity, HNS confirmed.

This sanction applies to the upcoming qualifier against Gibraltar in Varaždin.

At least 15 percent of available seating must be closed, with the restriction primarily affecting the stands behind the goals.

There is, however, a possibility for an exemption.

HNS intends to request permission from FIFA to fill the closed section with children under the age of 14 from football schools in Varaždin County.

In addition to the discriminatory incidents, FIFA also penalised HNS for the use of pyrotechnics by some fans during the same match.

For this offence, HNS has been ordered to pay a further fine of 11,500 Swiss francs.

This is not the first time Croatia has faced sanctions of this kind, with FIFA and UEFA regularly warning against discriminatory chants and the use of pyrotechnics in stadiums.