Ukraine ready to employ Croatia coach sacked over Ukraine’s chant

Football Federation of Ukraine vowed on Tuesday to employ Croatia‘s assistant coach Ognjen Vukojevic and reimburse his fine after he was punished by FIFA for a video in which he used Ukrainian chant “Glory to Ukraine!”.

FIFA hit Ognjen Vukojevic with a 15,000 Swiss franc ($15,000) fine and a warning after he and Croatian defender Domagoj Vida said “Glory to Ukraine” in a video posted after Croatia beat Russia in a World Cup quarter-final on Saturday (July 7).

Both men have played for Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev. Croatia’s Football Federation later sacked Vukojevic from the national team’s coaching staff.

Ukraine supporters have flooded the Facebook page of football governing body FIFA with over 158,000 comments, most saying “Glory to Ukraine,” after it fined Croatia’s assistant coach for a video in which he used the same slogan.

By Tuesday afternoon, FIFA’s Facebook page had over 157,000 reviews from users giving it the lowest one-star rating, most less than 48 hours old and including the phrase “Glory to Ukraine!.” Some added “Glory to Croatia!” and “Shame on FIFA!”

FIFA did not immediately comment on the posts.

Ukraine’s national team did not qualify for the World Cup.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia remain highly charged following Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and its backing for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. Some Ukrainian politicians have called on countries to boycott the soccer World Cup, which Russia is hosting.