Marko Arnautovic has been punished for a controversial celebration against North Macedonia. The Austrian striker was suspended for one game and missed the Dutch game.
Austria vs North Macedonia was presented at the National Arena, Budapest, Hungary, Sunday (13/6) in the Euro 2020 Group C match. The match was marked by Arnautovic’s controversial celebration.
The 32-year-old striker, who scored Austria’s third goal, celebrated his goal by making an ‘okay’ gesture with 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 yet 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 was found guilty of criticizing another player and UEFA strictly prohibited 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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