Board-News » Croatias then-puppet regime following

GENEVA -- FIFA has banned Croatia defender Josip Simunic for 10 games -- including the entire World Cup -- for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after the team qualified for the tournament in Brazil. Authentic Dorian ODaniel Jersey . Simunic invoked a World War II-era slogan used by Croatias then-puppet regime following a 2-0 playoff victory against Iceland last month. "After taking into account all of the circumstances of the case, and particularly given the gravity of the incident, the committee decided to suspend the player for 10 official matches," FIFA said in a statement. The incident is the latest to discredit football in Croatia, after UEFA President Michel Platini described its fans as the worst behaved at the 2012 European Championship. The sanction also reflected FIFAs commitment this year to tougher sanctions for racism and discrimination at matches. Croatia coach Niko Kovac, a teammate of Simunic at the 2006 World Cup, said the ban probably ended the 35-year-old defenders national team career. "Im unpleasantly surprised, shocked and disappointed by FIFAs ban of Simunic," Kovac said. "Im primarily sad for Simunic who will miss the World Cup. I know him for long as a player and a person and Im sure he did not want to offend anyone." Kovac said the Croatian football federation would appeal to FIFA. If that fails, a challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport could follow. Croatia hosted Iceland in Zagreb on Nov. 19 for a decisive qualifying match after a 0-0 draw in the first leg. After the match, Simunic took a microphone on the pitch and shouted to supporters: "For the homeland!" The fans responded: "Ready!" FIFA said Monday that the salute was "discriminatory and offended the dignity of a group of persons concerning ... race, religion or origin." Simunic will miss the whole World Cup tournament in Brazil and is also barred from the stadiums where Croatia will play its next 10 games. Simunic said he felt "bitter and shocked," according to Damir Vrbanovic, managing director of Croatias football federation "It is clear that FIFA wanted to send a strong message with this draconian punishment," Vrbanovic said. FIFA also fined Simunic 30,000 Swiss francs ($33,800) and ordered the Croatia football federation to pay a fine of 70,000 Swiss francs ($78,700). Simunic previously defended his action, saying he was driven by love for his country. The Australia-born player famously was sent off at the 2006 World Cup against Australia after receiving three yellow cards. In a separate FIFA disciplinary verdict Monday, Croatia star forward Mario Mandzukic was banned for just one World Cup match for a red-card challenge against Iceland. Mandzukic will miss the tournaments opening match when Croatia plays host Brazil in Sao Paulo on June 12. "We knew that Mandzukic will be punished and in that context we are happy its a one-match suspension," Kovac said. The FIFA panel imposed the minimum sanction on Mandzukic for serious foul play. The Bayern Munich forward, who scored the opening goal minutes earlier, was sent off for stamping on Iceland midfielder Johann Gudmundssons left knee. Authentic Breeland Speaks Jersey . The 2014 edition will be the ninth meeting between the Caps and Vikes in a tradition that dates back to 2005. "Since the original Whitecaps, the club has enjoyed fantastic support from fans in Victoria and all across Vancouver Island," said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. Authentic Kahlil McKenzie Jersey . The seventh-ranked Berdych wants to focus on the ATP Tour after helping the Czechs beat the Netherlands in the first round. Seeking their third straight Davis Cup title, the Czechs will rely again on veteran Radek Stepanek. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseysauthentic.com/ . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Canadiens at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game can also be heard on TSN Radio Montreal 690. The Calgary Flames will see if they can take their recent hot streak on the road when they shoot for a sixth consecutive win Monday night in Montreal.LOUDON, N.H. -- Ryan Newman used a track-record lap to fuel his run at a championship. Newman set the New Hampshire Motor Speedway qualifying record with a lap of 136.497 mph to win the pole and headline a top 12 loaded with Chase drivers for Sundays race. Chase for the Sprint Cup championship drivers filled 10 of the top 12 spots Friday. Kasey Kahne was second and joins Newman on the front row, Jeff Gordon was third and Kurt Busch fourth for what will be the second Chase race. Joey Logano qualified sixth, Kevin Harvick was eighth, series points leader and last weeks winner Matt Kenseth was ninth, and Greg Biffle starts 10th. Jimmie Johnson is 11th and Kyle Busch 12th. Martin Truex Jr. starts fifth the same week he found out NAPA was dumping sponsorship of his Michael Waltrip Racing No. 56 car after the race-fixing attempts at Richmond earlier this month. "This is definitely not the time of year you want to find out that you really dont have a ride next year," Truex said. "Its going to be tough, but well have to deal with it and figure it out." Truex did qualify for the Chase with NAPA last season, finishing 11th in points, and was in contention for the final Chase wild card berth at Richmond while driving with a broken wrist. He got a new cast this week and still doesnt know if hell need surgery at the end of the season. The Chase moves on Sunday to New Hampshire, where NASCAR has a 13-driver championship field for the first time since the title-deciding format began in 2004. Newman is eighth in the standings, certainly within striking distance of Kenseth. Cheap Chiefs Jerseys. . He won his second pole of the season and 51st in 432 career Cup races. Newman won from the pole this season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Newman, who is leaving Stewart-Haas Racing for a 2014 ride with Richard Childress, has three career wins at New Hampshire. "This track is the birthplace of track position," he said. "It is really difficult to pass. Having a good pit selection, having all those things weve had to many times before (helps). Last time we were on the pole here, we led a lot of laps and won. Im hoping we can duplicate that again." The rest of the Chase field saw Clint Bowyer start 16th and Dale Earnhardt Jr. 17th. Earnhardt is 13th in the Chase standings and was disgusted on the grid after his poor lap. "The car just hadnt been turning well and the front end is a bit of a handful," he said. NASCAR would love for the talk of the sport to return to racing and the Chase and not the scandal that rocked the sport. NASCAR took the unprecedented step of adding Gordon as a 13th driver and booted Truex from the field. Gordon, a four-time champion, was sixth in Chicago and has four straight top-10 finishes to work his way up to seventh in the standings. "We are in it and we want to show everyone why we are in it," Gordon said. "I think we had the last three races leading into Chicago. We were pretty good, but previously in the season we just have had our struggles. We have had missed opportunities and its hard to always put your finger on what exactly has caused those things." Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '