Ante Cacic: Croatia fans responsible for Euro 2016 fighting and flares are 'sports terrorists' who 'ruin everthing'

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Associated Press17 June 2016

Croatia coach Ante Cacic was furious at the behavior of the team's fans after flares were thrown onto the pitch and briefly led to the suspension of their Euro 2016 match against Czech Republic.

With Croatia 2-1 up and impressing on the field, the focus once more in this tournament switched from the players to the fans as more than 10 flares landed on the pitch in Saint-Etienne’s Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in around the 85th minute.

Scuffles appeared to break out in the Croatian end, with players including Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic gesturing to urge their supporters to calm down.

Referee Mark Clattenburg brought both sides into the centre circle with no action possible until the 90th minute.

Czech Republic then went on to find a late equaliser from the penalty spot after Clattenburg restarted play, with Tomas Nekic scoring from the spot.

Speaking through a translator after the game, Cacic described those responsible for the incidents as "sports terrorists" and said the Croatian football authorities can't fight against these "hooligans" on its own.

"They don't deserve to sit in stands," he said. "They ruin everything we are doing.

"It's a group of maybe six, seven or 10 individuals.

"I hope we can identify them and that they will be punished."

Croatia's fans have one of the worst records in Europe for misbehavior in stadiums.

Four years ago, then-Uefa President Michel Platini singled out Croatia fans for criticism.

Croatia were later deducted one point in its Euro 2016 qualifying group after fans painted a swastika symbol on the field before a match against Italy in Split.

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