UEFA: Croatia Football President Must Pay Fine for Gay Remarks

Croatian football federation president Vlatko Markovic has lost his appeal in the gay slur case for which he was fined 10,000 euros, says the Union of European Football Associations.

In a November interview with Croatia's Vecernji List newspaper, Markovic, 74, said that a gay player would never suit up for the national team as long as he led the federation. When asked if he had ever met a gay player, he responded, "No. Fortunately, only healthy people play football."

After the incident, Markovic, a former player and national team coach, was elected to his fourth four-year term as federation president.

According to the UEFA, its appeal body ruled that Markovic's statement to the press was "inappropriate" and has dismissed his challenge to the fine.