UEFA HAS APPOINTED an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate Austria striker Marko Arnautovicโs reaction to his goal against North Macedonia.
The former Stoke and West Ham frontman, who is currently playing his football in China with Shanghai Port, was restrained by skipper David Alaba as he gestured angrily after scoring late in Sundayโs 3-1 Group C victory in Romania
A UEFA statement said: โIn accordance with the Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to conduct an investigation regarding the incident involving the player Marko Arnautoviฤ that occurred during the 2020 European Championship group-stage match between the national teams of Austria and North Macedonia on 13 June 2021.
โFurther information on this matter will be made available in due course.โ
The incident came in the 89th minute of the game at the National Arena in Bucharest when, after beating North Macedonia keeper Stole Dimitrievski, Arnautovic, who is of Serbian heritage, appeared to make comments towards opposition players and then turned towards spectators.
Reports have alleged his initial remarks were aimed at defender Egzon Bejtulai and Gjanni Alioski, who both have Albanian roots.
Arnautovic later apologised for his outburst, but insisted he was not a racist.
In a post on his official Instagram account, he wrote: โThere were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to apologise โ especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania.
โI 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.โ
Not a fan of project players but the rules are the rules. Saying that Lowe plays with a smile on his face and attacks players for fun. . One think for sure it will be worth watching.
Think heโll really liven up our attack! Always looking for work.
@Donal Peoples: ..well for sure heads up rugby is his forte and we need to be adding that to game.
Waiting for the multiple articles from Neil Francis and co. decrying project players. We had it with Bundee, Stander, and to a certain extent Kleyn last year. Heard nothing about JGP so weโll see about Lowe prior to his debut. Iโve a feeling it will be very quiet.
@Aaron: so youโd like a clown like francis to abuse a player who has declared for Ireland just because heโs a leinster player?
@Chris Mc: Iโd like to see if Francis writes negative articles about project players from Leinster joining the Irish set up. It would be inconsistent if he didnโt.
@Chris Mc: I think everyone on here is board of the issue by now but it would be interesting to see how it plays out in mainstream media
Heโs done great as an attacker. But his defence is very suspect.
So whoโs in the back three with him on the wing?
@Davedental: IF hes on the left wing then for me it would be Earls if fit on the right with Keenan at 15.
@Chris Mc: no Conway on right wing.. Earls 33 now, time to start looking to future !
@Darren Mullins: Conway is nearly 30 so on that basis heโs not the future either, so in that you stick with Stockdale
@Chris Mc: Stockdale is left footed, canโt tackle and canโt catch so definitely not !
@Davedental: Is there anything to be said for Conway at 15?
Youโre all gonna whinge and moan but itll be stockdale at 15. Then as soon as he has a good game everyone will pretend they werent calling for his head and always supported him. 14 is either conway or Keenan. I dont see the point in picking Earlโs at his age. Hes good to have in the squad to pass on knowledge but he wont be there come the world cup and isnt that much better than anyone else to justify continued selection.
@Darren Mullins:
Stockdale will be the first name on the team sheet for all the obvious reason.
That is almost a guarantee