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Austria striker Marko Arnautovic is the subject of a UEFA investigation and could be banned from Euro 2020 after North Macedonia reported an alleged racist outburst to the federation following the two countries’ tournament opener.
Arnautovic is accused of directing an anti-Albanian tirade at North Macedonia left-back Ezgjan Alioski after scoring Austria’s third goal of their 3-1 win.
Leeds United man Alioski is of Albanian origin.
Former West Ham forward Arnautovic came off the substitutes’ bench and added to goals scored by Stefan Lainer and Michael Gregoritsch, but Austria’s win has been overshadowed by his his actions in the aftermath of last-minute strike.
Goran Pandev had equalised following Lainer’s stunning volley.
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“We are always against nationalism, discrimination and all other forms of insults and outbursts that are not in the spirit of football and the values that we all stand for together,” the federation said in a statement released on Monday.
“We will always stand up and defend the interests and dignity of the Macedonian national team wherever they play.”
Arnautovic has apologised and denied that he is racist in a statement released on Monday.
“There were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to apologise — especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania,” he wrote on social media.
“I 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.”
Arnautovic was born in Austria but is of Serbian origin.
Serbia has historically held tensions with nearby Albania and North Macedonia.
Some of the North Macedonian players are of Albanian origin.
Koha reports that Arnautovic, whose father is Serbian, made the slur in the language, believing that Alioski would understand him.
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