Vida denies mixing politics with football

CAIRO – 10 July 2018: Croatian defender, Domagoj Vida, revealed on Monday that he did not have the intention to mix politics with football when he shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” after defeating Russia at the World Cup quarter finals.

“There’s no politics in football. It’s a joke for my friends from Dynamo Kiev. I love Russians and I love Ukrainians,” Vida said on Monday.

Vida and Croatia assistant coach, Ognjen Vukojevic, posted a video on social media to celebrate reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 1998. Vida shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” while Vukojevic said: “This victory is for Dynamo [Kiev] and Ukraine.”

Vida and Vukojevic played for Ukraine’s Dynamo Kiev and their shouts were considered a clear reference to Ukraine’s severe tension with Russia that centers on Crimea.

The Croatian Federation announced on Monday that Vukojevic was released from his duties as Croatia assistant coach after the incident while the defender avoided punishment.

Vida scored Croatia's second goal at the game which ended with a 2-2 draw and went to penalty shoot-out. Vida also scored one of Croatia’s goals at the shoot-out and helped his country reach the semi-finals.

Croatia will face England on Wednesday at the World Cup semi-finals at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.