FIFA Dismiss Šimunić Appeal
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
It looks as if the international career of experienced Croatian defender Joe Šimunić is over after FIFA’s appeal committee dismissed an appeal against a 10-match ban imposed late last year on Wednesday, the Croatian FA says…
Šimunić was suspended by football’s world governing body FIFA for 10 matches late last year and banned from entering the stadium for any of the country’s matches at the World Cup in Brazil. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 30,000 Swiss francs (£20,700) for what FIFA declared was ‘discriminatory behaviour’ when he chanted ‘Za Dom Spremni’ during post-match celebrations after Croatia beat Iceland in November during their World Cup play-off match.
Šimunić had not given up hopes of playing in this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and launched an appeal to have the ban removed. Šimunić engaged Germany-based lawyer Davor Prtenjača, who began an online petition earlier this year which gathered over 285,000 supporters. The failed attempt may now spell the end of the road for the 105-cap veteran.
