Croatian leaders condemn pro Nazi football chants before Ajax match

Croatian political leaders and the Israeli embassy have condemned pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic chants by Hajduk Split football fans ahead of a European match against Dutch club Ajax, Al Jazeera and Euronews both reported. Groups of supporters marched through the coastal town of Split on Thursday chanting anti-Semitic slogans and praising Adolf Hitler and the Ustasha, Croatia's World War II pro-Nazi regime. [1][2]

Local media reported that fans belonging to the group known as the Torcida marched through Split before the game, according to Al Jazeera and Euronews. Dozens of fans were detained for violence before the match started, Al Jazeera reported. While Al Jazeera identified the event as a UEFA Europa League game in its summary and a UEFA Conference League match in its main text, Euronews reported it as a UEFA Conference League match. [1][2]

Hajduk Split won the match 2-1 and subsequently issued a statement apologizing to UEFA and Ajax, Euronews reported. The club stated that visitors witnessed scenes that they do not want Europe to remember. The Croatian football federation also condemned the incident, according to Euronews. [2]

Neo-Nazism includes social and political movements since 1945 that promote racial supremacy, incite hatred against minorities, or attempt to glorify Adolf Hitler and fascist ideologies. [3]