Croatian police investigate antisemitic chants by Hajduk Split supporters

Croatian authorities have launched an investigation into antisemitic chanting by Hajduk Split supporters that occurred prior to their Conference League match against Ajax. Video footage circulating online captured groups of fans marching toward the stadium while shouting slogans referencing Auschwitz and expressing support for Adolf Hitler.

The march featured a mock coffin labeled with the name of the Dutch club, which has deep historical ties to the Jewish community. The Croatian government issued a formal condemnation on social media, describing the behavior as a direct contradiction of the democratic values upheld by the nation.

Official condemnation and legal fallout

"We strongly condemn the unacceptable chants glorifying the Nazi regime that were recorded among a portion of fans before today's match in Split."

Croatian Government

Local police have confirmed that arrests have already been made, with additional individuals currently being identified for their involvement. While Hajduk Split issued an apology following their 2-1 victory, the statement did not specifically address the antisemitic nature of the chants, focusing instead on a general apology for the scenes witnessed by Ajax officials and players.

Tena Simonovic Einwalter, Croatia's ombudswoman, expressed deep concern regarding the normalization of such behavior. She noted that these incidents are becoming more frequent, largely due to a lack of decisive action from authorities in previous instances of discriminatory conduct within Croatian football.