EURO 2024: UEFA bans Albania’s Daku for offensive chants
UEFA gave Albania striker Mirlind Daku a two-game ban for leading an offensive chants after his country’s 2-2 draw with Croatia at EURO 2024.
Check out M88 Mansion’s best offers here.
Check out for more sports updates here.
Daku faces two-game ban for his offensive chants
The 26-year-old took a megaphone on Wednesday and sang anti-North Macedonia and anti-Serbia songs.
“Daku will be banned for a total of two UEFA representative team competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible,” it said in a statement.
“[Daku] failed to comply with the general principles of conduct, violated the basic rules of decent conduct, used sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and brought the sport of football into disrepute.”
Daku apologetic for his actions
Daku later apologized for instigating the derogatory chant.
However, Daku will miss Albania’s final Group B match against Spain on Monday.
He will also not suit up in the Round of 16, should Albania qualify.
Otherwise, his ban will take effect in the first game of UEFA Nations League in September.
“For the time being, we are focused on tomorrow’s match. He knows he made a mistake, he apologized and everything ended there,” said Albania captain Berat Djimsiti.”
“I am not here to speak about the politics. This is a thing that UEFA has to take care of. In this moment, the main reason why we are here is to play a big game tomorrow.”
UEFA fines Albania for multiple offenses
UEFA also handed the Albanian Football Association fines totalling 47,500 euros ($50,787) for several offenses related to the Croatia game.
The 25,000 euros fine was for ‘transmitting provocative messages not fit for a sports event’, 20,000 euros for pitch invasions, and 2,500 euros for lighting fireworks.
After the match, both Croatia and Albania fans shouted “kill, kill, kill the Serb” towards Serbia.
Serbia threatened to withdraw from the EURO 2024 tournament if UEFA does not resolve the issue.
