Was it racism, nationalism or just pure frustration and anger?
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 15.06.21. | 15:08
UEFA investigate Arnautovic's North Macedonian tirade
UEFA on Tuesday opened a disciplinary inquiry into Austria's Marko Arnautovic for insulting North Macedonian players in Sunday's Euro 2020 game.
Arnautovic netted Austria's third goal in a 3-1 win in Bucharest and then launched into an ill-tempered celebration, his teammate David Alaba having to intervene to calm him down. Media reports suggested he had insulted Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski, referring to the defender's Albanian heritage.
Alaba helping Arnautovic celebrate his goal ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/9UZEqcOQNS
— Los Blancos Live (@LosBlancos_Live) June 13, 2021
Marko Arnautovic is of Serbian origin and there is speculation that he may have gone into a bout of insulting the ethnic Albanian. This was however denied later by the Austria striker himself when he issued a wide-ranging apology on Monday but that was not enough to stop UEFA from appointing ethics and disciplinary inspector to look into the incident.
"Further information on this matter will be made available in due course," European football's governing body added.
Arnautovic had violence in his mind for a second there when his teammate slapped him ???????? #AUTMKD pic.twitter.com/D7dgLQTJr6
— ???? (@FIFASLAYER7) June 13, 2021
In his Instagram mea culpa Arnautovic did not elaborate on the nature of his verbal onslaught.
"There were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to APOLOGIZE -- especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania. I would like to say one thing very clearly: I AM NOT A RACIST! I have friends in almost every country and I stand for diversity. Everyone who knows me is aware of that."
The Macedonian football federation has urged UEFA to give the forward a "very severe fine".
© Agence France-Presse
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