Zagreb's political leadership has united in condemning the anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi chants that marred Hajduk Split's UEFA Conference League clash with Ajax in the southern Adriatic city on Thursday. The episode, which unfolded as thousands of Torcida ultras marched through Split before kick-off, has reignited concerns about the persistence of far-right extremism in Croatian football.
Local media reported that the marchers shouted slogans including “Crush the Jews,” “Rise up Adolf,” and “Let's go Ustasha,” the latter a reference to the Nazi-allied regime that ruled the Independent State of Croatia during World War II. The chants were captured on video and quickly circulated on social networks, prompting an immediate response from officials.
President Zoran Milanović described the behaviour as “unacceptable and shameful” in a statement on Friday, urging authorities to act swiftly against those responsible. “We must show that there is no place in Croatia for the glorification of Nazism and Ustasha ideology,” he said. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who leads the conservative Croatian Democratic Union, also condemned the “messages of anti-Semitism,” stressing that they are “completely at odds with the values we want to uphold in Croatian society.”
Israel's embassy in Zagreb expressed its shock, calling the incident a “serious anti-Semitic event” in a statement obtained by the AFP news agency. The embassy's reaction underscores the diplomatic sensitivity of the affair, coming as European institutions increasingly scrutinise hate speech and extremism in sport.
Violence and pyrotechnics overshadow the match
The chants were not the only disruption. Dozens of fans were detained before the match on charges of violence, and during the game Torcida supporters set off flares and other pyrotechnics, forcing a stoppage of more than ten minutes. Police have opened an investigation into the pro-Nazi chants and said suspects are being held.
Hajduk Split, who won the match 2–1, issued a statement apologising to UEFA and to Ajax, saying the Dutch club “witnessed scenes which we do not want Europe to remember.” The Croatian Football Federation also condemned the incident, though critics argue that such statements have become routine responses to recurring problems.
The episode is not an isolated one. Croatia's hardcore ultra-nationalist supporters have long tainted the country's image with fascist slogans and Ustasha symbols. The Ustasha regime was responsible for the deaths and persecution of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascist Croats during the Second World War.
In 2015, UEFA deducted a point from Croatia after fans painted a swastika on the pitch in Split ahead of a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy. The perpetrators were never identified. More recently, observers have noted a growing tolerance for the country's pro-Nazi past, and critics accuse authorities of failing to enforce bans on Ustasha emblems.
The latest incident comes as Croatia seeks to project itself as a modern, European nation. Its EU membership and adoption of the euro have been milestones, but such episodes risk undermining that image. The government's response, while firm in rhetoric, will be judged by whether it leads to concrete prosecutions and a sustained effort to clean up the stands.
For now, the focus remains on the investigation in Split. Police have not disclosed how many suspects have been detained, but they have promised a thorough inquiry. The club's apology, meanwhile, has done little to assuage concerns among Jewish communities and anti-fascist groups, who are calling for more than words.
As European football bodies continue to grapple with the challenge of extremism in stadiums, this episode serves as a reminder that the problem is not confined to any single country. The response from Zagreb will be closely watched, both at home and abroad.
