Nyon –
Marko Arnautovic punished for controversial celebrations against Northern Macedonia. Attacker Austria it was suspended for one game and absent against Netherlands.
Austria vs North Macedonia was presented at the National Arena, Budapest, Hungary, Sunday (13/6) in the Group C match Euro 2020. The match was colored by Arnautovic’s controversial celebration.
The 32-year-old striker, who scored Austria’s third goal, celebrated his goal by making an ‘okay’ gesture by putting his index and thumb together, and shouting in abusive language. The celebration also saw Arnautovic strangled team captain David Alaba.
‘Jebem sam ti majku iptarsku’,’ he shouted to the audience. Sipstarku has a racist meaning shown to ethnic Albanians. Macedonia is inhabited by Albanian immigrants who fled the Kosovo war in 1998-1999.
Incidentally in North Macedonia there are players of Albanian descent, namely Egzon Bejtulai and Gjanni Alioski. Meanwhile, Arnautovic has Serbian blood from his father despite defending the country of his mother’s birth Austria. Serbia has not recognized Kosovo’s independence, which has made relations between the country and North Macedonia even tighter.
The celebration was eventually investigated by UEFA because the North Macedonian Football Federation (FFM) felt Arnautovic mocked Alioski and Bejtulai. UEFA finally handed down a one-match ban for Arnautovic.
Marko Arnautovic found guilty of criticizing another player and UEFA strictly forbids it. As a result, Arnautovic is confirmed to be absent when Austria faces the Netherlands in the second matchday of Group C, Thursday (17/6/2021) evening local time or Friday (18/6) early morning WIB at Amsterdam ArenA.
Austria now lead Group C standings with three points after a 3-1 win over North Macedonia. The Netherlands followed in second with the same points but lost on goal difference after beating Ukraine 3-2.
(mrp/ran)
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