Albania's Daku gets 2-match ban for chanting against North Macedonia

The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee on Sunday handed a two-match suspension to Rubin Kazan's Mirlind Daku for chanting against North Macedonia after the match against Croatia on matchday two of UEFA EURO 2024, which means he will not be able to play against Spain on Monday.

"The UEFA Commission has decided to suspend the Albanian player for two matches and he will not be able to play in the next match against Spain, scheduled for Monday 24th June in Dusseldorf," the Albanian Football Federation said.

The player, at the end of the match which ended in a two-all draw after Albania's 95th minute goal, took a megaphone and chanted anti-North Macedonia, which provoked the anger of the Macedonian football federation.

"This behaviour is unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of fair play and mutual respect that football promotes. The Macedonian Football Federation will send an official letter to UEFA for this outrageous behaviour," they said.

"We ask the footballer Mirlind Daku to publicly apologise for his behaviour, acknowledging the damage he has caused," it added. Daku apologised publicly via social media, but has not been able to avoid the sanction.

"Like every footballer, in those moments the emotions are on another level, where only on the pitch you can understand, it is difficult to describe the feeling of playing in this national team. I'm sorry if I offended anyone after the game against Croatia, the effect of the game takes its toll, I continue to work with the whole group on our dreams," he posted on social media.

 

June 23, 2024