The Croatian swastika is in the news. Yesterday evening, Croatia played Italy in qualifications for the 2016 European Football Championship. The game took place behind closed doors in Split. The Union of European Football Associations has punished the Croatian Football Association for the “racist” behavior of its fans. In particular, the fans often employ Ustasha symbols and salutes harking back to World War II, when Croatia was one of Germany’s puppet states. Following yesterday’s qualifier, which ended up in a draw, the Italian Football Association has made an official complaint to UEFA after a large swastika was spotted on the grass where the game was played. It was mowed into the turf a day or two before the game. “This is a disgrace not just for the Croatian Football Association,” declared one of its officials afterwards, “but for the whole of Croatia.” How very true. Now that the Croatian soccer fans have been chastised by UEFA, swastikas will appear at each and every game. It will become the hallmark of Croatian soccer, no less. The only question is who is chastising who in this pitiful game, for Europe’s past is far from chaste. Not to mention its future.

Addendum I (June 17, 2015)

The swastika on the soccer field has been bantered about in the Croatian media for days, and quite ferociously, but I have not come across a single comment about it that is worth mentioning, let alone upholding. Simply put, the rift of World War II is out in the open, and nobody knows how to mend it. Widened and deepened by the recent war of independence, which gave new wings to the Ustasha traditions, the rift seems to be here to stay. Nazis and communists will not give an inch to each other. Once a puppet state, always a puppet state. Danke Deutschland, for ever and ever.

Addendum II (June 30, 2015)

According to one of the leading Croatian newspapers, the swastika remains on the soccer field in Split to this day, and there are fresh photographs to prove it. It has not been removed after more than a fortnight. Come to think of it, will it ever be removed from the turf into which it was mowed? Given all the fuss the swastika has caused already, perhaps it will be preserved for future generations. By and by, it is destined to become yet another gem of Croatia’s national heritage.

Addendum III (November 5, 2015)

Almost five months later, no-one has yet been charged for the swastika on the soccer field in Split. Well, a person responsible for security at the Croatian Football Association was charged yesterday for failing to protect the soccer field from such an incident. And the fine he has to dish out is no less than ridiculous: two-thousand kuna or less than three-hundred euros. According to the Croatian media, the police is still clueless about the perpetrators of this disgrace. Chances are they will never be found. The Croatian swastika will remain a mystery for all times.