WARSAW: Croatia’s football federation has been charged by European federation UEFA over racist incidents at the Euro 2012 Group C game against Italy last Thursday.

A statement said: “UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Croatian Football Federation for the setting-off and throwing of fireworks, and the improper conduct of supporters (racist chants, racist symbols) at the UEFA Euro 2012 Group C match against Italy in Poznan on Thursday.”

Earlier UEFA had said it was investigating reports that a banana was thrown on to the pitch during the match which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network, which works closely with UEFA and has two “international monitors” at each Euro 2012 game, noted on Friday that’s its observers reported “between 300 and 500 Croatian fans were involved in racially abusing Italy striker Mario Balotelli.”

The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on Tuesday. UEFA is still investigating reports of alleged racist chanting during Italy’s match against Spain in Gdansk on June 10.

Racism was a major source of concern in Poland and Ukraine before the tournament and Balotelli said he would “kill” anyone who threw bananas at him in the street or walk off the pitch if he heard monkey noises during a match. In fact he evinced no reaction to the crowd of any source befoe being substituted in the second half.

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