Albania's Mirlind Daku Suspended for Leading Offensive Chants

Albania forward Mirlind Daku was suspended for two games after leading offensive chants against Serbia and North Macedonia at Euro 2024. UEFA cited violations of decent conduct rules. Daku apologized for his actions. An ongoing investigation addresses potential racist and discriminatory conduct by fans during the Croatia match.

Albania forward Mirlind Daku was suspended for two games on Sunday for leading his team's fans in offensive chants about Serbia and North Macedonia at Euro 2024 that soccer governing body UEFA said violated the basic rules of decent conduct. Daku apologised for joining in the chanting of slogans against the two countries with a megaphone following his side's 2-2 draw with Croatia on Wednesday in Hamburg.

UEFA said in a statement that it had banned Daku for "failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute." UEFA added that an investigation into potential racist and/or discriminatory conduct by fans at the match was ongoing.

Albania, who are third in Group B with one point and can still qualify for the last 16, play Spain, who are top on six points, on Monday in Duesseldorf. Serbia threatened to withdraw from the tournament over chanting by Croatia and Albania fans in their teams' 2-2 draw, which UEFA is also investigating.