Croatia football head Markovic loses gay slur case

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA says Croatian football federation president Vlatko Markovic has lost his appeal against being fined —10,000 ($14,500) for making anti-gay remarks.

UEFA says its appeal body ruled that Markovic made an "inappropriate statement" to the press and dismissed his challenge against the punishment. The 74-year-old Markovic said in an interview last November that a gay player wouldn't play for Croatia while he led the federation, and that he never met a gay player because "only healthy people play football."

Croatian football officials later elected Markovic, a former player and national team coach, to serve a fourth four-year term.