UEFA has charged Croatia for its fans’ racial abuse of Italy’s Mario Balotelli during the country’s 1-1 draw with Italy. Anti-discrimination monitors observed Croatian fans making monkey noises and displaying “far right nationalist flags.” It became “most intense as (Balotelli) was substituted and left the field.” They are also investigating claims a banana was thrown from the Croatia section.

Croatia disavowed a connection to these supporters, terming them “hooligans who should be isolated from all sports events.” This is not Croatia’s first racist incident. Croatia was fined $19,600 for fans’ “Neo-Nazi” flags and chants during their quarterfinals loss to Turkey at Euro 2008. Croatia was also fined $27,700 when fans in Zagreb abused England striker Emile Heskey during a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

[Photos via Getty]