Croatian Fans' Nazi Chants Spark Outrage, Investigation

Severe condemnation has erupted in Croatia and internationally following antisemitic and Nazi chants by Hajduk Split football fans during a procession in the city before their match against Ajax on Thursday. The fans reportedly shouted slogans such as "Trample the Jews," "Auschwitz, Auschwitz," and "Rise, Adolf." A coffin bearing the name of Ajax, a club with a known Jewish fan tradition, was carried at the front of the procession before being thrown onto the road and smashed. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković condemned the incidents, stating that while he was pleased with Hajduk's victory, he strongly disavowed the pre-match events and antisemitic messages. "This is entirely at odds with the value system we want to have in Croatian society," he emphasized.

Sara Lustig, the Prime Minister's Special Advisor for the Holocaust and the Fight Against Antisemitism, issued a strong condemnation in English, calling the chants glorifying the Nazi regime "unacceptable." She confirmed that a criminal investigation is underway to identify and prosecute those responsible, adding that such "shameful behavior is contrary to the spirit of sport and the democratic values that modern Croatia stands for."

The Croatian Football Federation also condemned the glorification of Nazism and the Ustasha movement, calling for the punishment of those involved. The Israeli Embassy in Zagreb expressed deep shock and strong condemnation of the "severe antisemitic incident," demanding a clear and resolute denunciation from all relevant authorities. The embassy thanked the Croatian government and Lustig for their swift response and expressed confidence in the authorities' decisive action. The Israeli Embassies in Belgium and the Chairman of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, also denounced the antisemitic fervor.