Croatian soccer chief held in airport theft probe
The head of the Croatian football federation has been arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of shoplifting, as his country prepare for their Euro 2008 match against England tonight.
Zorislav Srebric, 67 – general secretary of Croatia’s FA – was held in WHSmith at the West Sussex airport’s South Terminal after allegedly stealing stationery.
He was arrested in front of stunned players shortly after arriving at the airport yesterday, the Sun newspaper reported.
Today, officials at the Croatian Football Federation (CFF) insisted there was a “misunderstanding”.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: “A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft from WHSmith at Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal. He has been kept in custody on suspicion of theft.”
CFF spokesman Iva Olivari said: “There has been a misunderstanding, but we will be issuing a statement later in relation to this matter.”
Vlatka Jandel, a spokeswoman for the CFF in Zagreb, said: “That is unbelievable. I cannot imagine him stealing anything.
“Mr Srebric is quoted in Croatian media today as saying there was a misunderstanding and that this accusation is not true.”
