June 16 – UEFA has suspended Austrian player, Marko Arnautovic, for the next match of Austria’s Euro 2020 campaign against Holland on Thursday after he shouted abuse at a North Macedonia player in his country’s opening 3-1 win.
North Macedonia had asked UEFA to punish Arnautović to be punished for his controversial reaction after he scored in Austria’s 3-1 win. Arnautovic appeared to be shouting insults at his opponents and their fans, leading to his captain David Alaba attempting to quieten him.
The North Macedonian federation said his conduct was deliberately aimed at Ezgjan Alioski, who is of Albanian origin. Arnautović’s father is Serbian.
Serbia does not recognise the independence of its former province Kosovo, while there is historic tension between Serbia and North Macedonia.
“The FFM strongly condemns the nationalistic outburst of Austrian player Marko Arnautovic, after a goal scored in yesterday’s match, addressed to Ezgjan Alioski,” a North Macedonia statement said.
“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 using racist language during the match in Bucharest, but apologised for his reaction after scoring in the 89th minute.
UEFA punished Arnautovic under Art. 15(1)(a)(iv) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulationssaying he would be suspended from the next “UEFA representative team competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible, for insulting another player.”
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