Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 6y

FA won't appeal England fans' Nations League ban vs. Croatia - sources

England supporters will be unable to attend the Nations League clash with Croatia in October following a decision by the Football Association not to make special representation to UEFA for their fans to watch the game, sources have told ESPN FC.

Gareth Southgate's team are due to meet their World Cup conquerors in Rijeka on Oct. 12, just three months after the semifinal defeat against Croatia in Moscow.

But the Nations League tie will be played behind closed doors at Rijeka's Rujevica Stadium with the Croatian Football Federation still to serve the second game of a two-match stadium ban imposed by UEFA in 2015.

The penalty of a two-game ban was issued by UEFA after a swastika was marked on the pitch prior to Croatia's Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy at Stadin Poljud in Split in June 2015.

Croatia served the first game of the ban with a behind closed doors clash against Bulgaria in October 2015, but there had been a hope that England fans would be able to attend the Rijeka clash in the event of the FA pleading for their supporters not to be affected by a punishment handed down to the Croatians.

But sources have told ESPN FC that the FA will not be making a case for a small number of fans to watch the game in Rijeka, with the FA determined to avoid undermining UEFA's stance on anti-discrimination.

While accepting that there are frustrations at England fans being unable to watch the game, the FA will not challenge the two-match stadium ban.

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