Any more racist behaviour by Croatian soccer fans could lead to the country's exclusion from the 2008 European Championship.
UEFA issued the warning Tuesday ahead of Croatia's qualifier against England on Wednesday.
``The sanctions range from a fine to points deduction to exclusion from the competition,'' UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said. ``It's clear that second-time and third-time offenders are not going to be treated at all the same way as a first-time offender.''
And Croatian fans are repeat offenders.
In August, 200 Croatian fans formed a giant human swastika during Croatia's 2-0 friendly win at the Armando Picchi stadium in Italy. Many also gave Nazi salutes.
The fans claimed to have been incited by the jeering of Croatia's national anthem and the waving of flags of the old communist Yugoslavia. Croatia fought a bloody war for independence from 1991 to 1995.
In 2004, Croatian fans shouted racist chants and brandished extremist banners during the country's three games at the European Championship in Portugal.
``We have a delegate at matches and he's aware that he has to pay attention to the situation,'' Gaillard said.
He noted that Croatia is not the only nation with a bad record.
``There have been sanctions against Slovakia, clubs in Rome, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia,'' Gaillard said.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
