IGLFA press release on president of Croatian football federation

The International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) were dismayed at the comments made by Mr. Vlatko Markovic , President of the Croatian Football Federation in an interview with Croatian national paper Vecernji List.

Mr Markovic remarked that there was no place for gay players on the national football-team, stating "While I'm a president of the Croatian Football Federation, there will be no homosexuals playing in the national team."

Mr Klaus Heusslein, Co-president of the IGLFA, an Association of over 85 lesbian gay bisexual and trans (LGBT) football teams and Leagues all over theworld, says that the comment is clearly out of touch with the rest of Europe and in particular grass roots soccer in his own country. Over the last three years Croatian LGBT teams have taken part in international tournaments and are making a positive effort to demonstrate that soccer is a way of engendering respect and understanding irrespective of colour, race and religious or sexual orientation.” It is clearly disappointing that the President of the Croatian Football Association is living in the dark ages; he needs to understand the positive contribution soccer makes to the whole community. Players aspire to represent their country at all levels and they should be supported and not discouraged by out of date attitudes of those in charge.”

“Mr. Markovic is the head of an important soccer nation and we would have expected him to support the FARE initiatives. UEFA and other leading nation’s soccer authorities, particularly France, Germany and the United Kingdom are making great efforts to rid the game of racism and intolerance.”

We will be asking UEFA and other Football Associations to contact Mr Markovic and explain that his views are unacceptable and not in the true spirit of the game.”