Split police investigate chants before Hajduk–Ajax match

Police in Split are investigating chants heard during a Hajduk Split supporters’ march before Thursday’s Conference League match against Ajax. Croatia’s football association condemned what it called antisemitic chants and the glorification of Nazism and the Ustaše, but its Friday statement did not announce an inquiry of its own. [1] [2]

A report by Dutch news agency ANP, carried by Nieuws.nl, said the association was investigating which supporters had misbehaved. The association’s statement instead says it supports the authorities’ efforts to establish individual responsibility. Split police say they are conducting the criminal investigation. [3] [1] [2]

Police said they had recorded chants with potentially criminal content during the march. Croatian public broadcaster HRT reported antisemitic chants and references to Auschwitz and Adolf Hitler. Police said they were continuing to identify people from footage. [2] [4]

In a statement dated Friday, police said three people had been arrested on suspicion of publicly inciting violence and hatred. The Associated Press reported the same day, citing police, that 12 fans had been arrested. The police statement does not give a time for its figure, leaving the current total unclear. [2] [6]

Hajduk beat Ajax 2–1. Separately from the march, pyrotechnics interrupted the match, according to the association. Hajduk apologised to Ajax and the competition organisers for events in the stands, in a club statement reproduced by Tportal; that apology did not explicitly address the earlier chants. [7] [1] [5]