FIFA said Sunday it is investigating a video of a Croatia player praising Ukraine after his team beat World Cup host Russia.
The video shows Croatia defender Domagoj Vida shouting "glory to Ukraine" before the retired ex-player Ognjen Vukojevic adds "this win is for Dynamo and Ukraine ... go Croatia."
Vida and Vukojevic played together at Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev. Vida was a star of Croatia's win on penalties over Russia Saturday, scoring a header in extra time and converting a penalty in the shootout.
"FIFA is processing the different reports of the said match as well as potential evidence concerning the matter referred to in your message," football's world governing body said when asked about the video. "Please understand, until we have evaluated all information available, we cannot comment further."
It wasn't immediately clear whether they intended the video to be made public, or if it was later uploaded to YouTube by someone else.
Vida told the Russian newspaper Sport Express he meant the video to be a personal message.
"There's no politics in football. It's a joke for my friends from Dynamo Kiev," he was quoted as saying. "I love Russians and I love Ukrainians."
Tensions have been high since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Ukraine's government accuses Russia of arming pro-Russian separatists who control part of the east of the country, and of backing up the separatist groups with Russian military forces.
Vukojevic was appointed last year as a scout for Dynamo after a lengthy playing career which included being part of the Croatian squad for the 2014 World Cup.
FIFA can fine or suspend players for political gestures at the World Cup. Three Swiss players were fined for making hand gestures referencing the Albanian flag during a 2-1 win over Serbia in the group stage.
Croatia faces England Wednesday in the country's first World Cup semifinal game since 1998.
AP
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