A media watchdog in the Balkans condemned death threats and intimidation directed at Croatian journalists following their coverage of pro-Nazi chants prior to a recent football match. The incidents occurred in the lead-up to a match between Hajduk Split and Dutch club Ajax, held last week in the Croatian coastal city of Split.

Reports and video footage captured local fans marching through the town, chanting antisemitic and pro-Nazi slogans. The journalists who reported on these events subsequently faced threats to their safety, prompting criticism from regional media monitoring organizations.

The watchdog highlighted concerns over the increasing hostility toward media professionals investigating extremist behavior linked to sporting events. It emphasized the importance of protecting journalists who cover sensitive and potentially inflammatory topics in order to uphold freedom of expression and the public’s right to information.

Authorities in Croatia have not yet publicly responded to the specific threats against the journalists. However, broader efforts to address hate speech and promote tolerance in the country’s football fan communities remain ongoing, with officials recently pledging to combat such incidents more effectively.

The incident underscores continuing challenges in confronting antisemitism and extremist ideologies within segments of European football fandom, a persistent issue that has drawn attention from both local and international observers.