Shouting ‘For Homeland, Ready!’ Is Not Patriotism

People had been killed with that being shouted and we in Croatia want to develop a spirit of cooperation and tolerance, PM Sanader said.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – During a government discussion about a new law on preventing riots at sporting events, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader commented on very frequent shouting at matches: “For the Homeland, Ready!”, saying there was nothing patriotic about that type of cheering. It could have been considered patriotic in some past times, when the Pavelic regime (1941-1945) killed people of other nationalities, religions and races, even people of the same nationality. 

- People had been killed with such a cry and we in Croatia want to develop a spirit of cooperation and tolerance – Sanader said, adding that, unfortunately, that cry fell under the usual iconography at sporting matches. Regarding the law on preventing riots at sporting events, Sanader said that the new amendments to the law envisage some new powers to police officers and guards, such as testing fans for alcohol while they are still on their way to the stadium or sports hall.

- Police and guards will be able to apply breathalysers on all people whom they suspect are under the influence of alcohol, not just at the entrance of the facility, but also on the way to the sporting facility. Also, during away matches, all known troublemakers will have their passports confiscated seven days before the sporting event at the latest – Sanader said, presenting the law.

The new law also envisages that the most extreme offenders will, apart from having their passports taken away, spend the time during the match in police stations.

The government said that they expect the new law to finally put a stop to riots at sporting events which have so far cost Croatian clubs 750,000 euros, Vice-Premier Djurdja Adlesic said, adding that the national team and clubs in total paid as much as two million euros in fines.