Marko Arnautovic being investigated over outburst and could get kicked out of Euro 2020
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Austria striker Marko Arnautovic is the subject of a UEFA investigation and could be banned from Euro 2020 after North Macedonia reported an alleged racist outburst to the federation following the two countries’ tournament opener.
Arnautovic has been accused of directing an anti-Albanian tirade at North Macedonia left-back Ezgjan Alioski after scoring Austria’s third goal of their 3-1 win.
Leeds United man Alioski is of Albanian origin.
Former West Ham forward Arnautovic came off the substitutes’ bench and added to goals scored by Stefan Lainer and Michael Gregoritsch, but Austria’s win has been overshadowed by his his actions in the aftermath of last-minute strike.
Goran Pandev had equalised following Lainer’s stunning volley.
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But Gregoritsch’s 78th-minute finish from David Alaba’s cross put Austria on course for an opening victory.
Arnautovic then rounded goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and powered home.
The 32-year-old scarcely celebrated his goal and appeared to engage in a spat with Alioski. Arnautovic made a gesture with his right hand and then continued to shout at the 29-year-old.
He then turned to the crowd inside the National Arena in Bucharest and continued his angry rant.
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Austria captain Alaba grabbed Arnautovic’s jaw and appeared to tell him to calm down.
The Shanghai Port man then sat on the advertising boards for a few seconds before returning to the pitch in the bizarre incident.
Kosovan outlet Koha claims that Arnautovic’s outburst included him saying: “I’m f***ing your Albanian mother,” in the direction of Alioski.
UEFA have now opened an investigation into the incident.
“We are always against nationalism, discrimination and all other forms of insults and outbursts that are not in the spirit of football and the values that we all stand for together,” the federation said in a statement released on Monday.
“We will always stand up and defend the interests and dignity of the Macedonian national team wherever they play.”
Arnautovic has apologised and denied that he is racist in a statement released on Monday.
“There were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to apologise — especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania,” he wrote on social media.
“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.”
Arnautovic was born in Austria but is of Serbian origin.
Serbia has historically held tensions with nearby Albania and North Macedonia.
Some of the North Macedonian players are of Albanian origin.
Koha reports that Arnautovic, whose father is Serbian, made the slur in the language, believing that Alioski would understand him.
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