MARKO ARNAUTOVIC has been slapped with a one-match BAN for his ‘insulting’ celebration during Austria’s Euro 2020 win over North Macedonia.
The former West Ham star, 32, scored his side’s third goal in the 89th minute to seal a 3-1 victory.
Arnautovic was held back by David Alaba as he celebrated wildly.
After the game, furious North Macedonia players claimed Arnautovic had racially abused them, insisting the player had directed ‘insults’ at Ezgjan Alioski and Egzon Bejtulai – two players with Albanian roots.
Arnautovic is an ethnic Serb, a country that does not recognise the former Yugoslav state as an independent nation.
North Macedonia released a scathing statement ‘demanding the harshest punishment’, while Arnautovic swiftly denied any racism.
After an investigation, Uefa have decided to ban Arnautovic for one game – Thursday night’s clash with Holland – for ‘insulting another player’.
Earlier this week, in an official statement, the North Macedonian FA said: “The FFM strongly condemns the nationalistic outburst of Austrian player Marko Arnautovic, after a goal scored in yesterday’s match, addressed to Ezgjan Alioski.
“At the same time, we inform you that we have submitted an official letter to Uefa demanding the harshest punishment for Arnautovic.
“We are always against nationalism, discrimination and all other forms of insults and outbursts that are not in the spirit of football and values that we all stand together.
“We will always stand up and defend the interests and dignity of Macedonian national players wherever they perform.”
Arnautovic denied any racism, although he admitted to ‘heated words’ directed ‘to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania’.
The Austria man said: “I would like to say one thing very clearly: I am not a racist.
“I have friends in almost every country and I stand for diversity. Everyone who knows me is aware of that.”
Tensions between Serbian players and those with Albanian roots surfaced in the 2018 World Cup.
Three years ago, Swiss stars Granit Xhaka of Arsenal and Xherdan Shaqiri celebrated goals by making the ‘Albanian Eagle’ gesture, which riled the Serbs.
Serbia called for them to be banned for ‘provocative gestures’ but instead both Xhaka and Shaqiri were fined £7,630 for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’.
And skipper Stefan Lichtsteiner was also fined £3,824 for making the gesture after Shaqiri’s winner.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
