Gregory Sertic Denied Clearance to Play for Croatia

FIFA have turned down Croatia’s application to bolster its side with a player from its diaspora….

French-born Bordeaux midfielder Gregory Sertic (24), whose grandfather emigrated to France from Croatia, had recently obtained a Croatian passport after signalling his intentions to play for the red and white checks. FIFA however have ruled that Sertic, who has been capped by the French under-21 side, will not be eligible to play for Croatia.

“After Sertic got his passport (Croatian), the Croatian Football Federation went after securing him. Before you apply you have to write a letter to FIFA’s legal department and they respond by letting you know if you have a chance or not. They told us that we do not have a chance, but to try. FIFA regulations state that grandfathers can be taken into consideration, but one condition is important which Sertic never met. When he played his first match for France he did not have a Croatian passport. He did not have a chance to choose countries as he was not a Croatian citizen. When he decided to change, his Mother and Father were French. Sertic according to FIFA was and will remain French,” Croatian FA Secretary Damir Vrbanović told Jutarnji list.