'Not a racist': Euro 2020 player banned for 'disgraceful' mother sledge

Marko Arnautovic has his back at accusations he's a racist after being banned by UEFA for a disgusting sledge against a rival player from North Macedonia player at Euro 2020.

The Austria forward has been defended by captain David Alaba and coach Franco Foda, despite being handed a one-game ban for the incident in his side's opening match of the tournament.

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UEFA said Arnautovic had been punished for "insulting another player" and the 32-year-old will miss his side's next match against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

European football's governing body had opened an investigation into Arnautovic following the incident in Sunday's 3-1 win over North Macedonia in Bucharest.

The former West Ham United player, who now plays for Shanghai Port in China, netted Austria's third goal in the game and then launched into an ill-tempered celebration until Alaba intervened to calm him down.

Media reports claimed he insulted Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski, referring to the North Macedonia defender's Albanian heritage.

It's claimed the Austrian star chided Alioski by saying: “I’m f***ing your Albanian mother”.

Arnautovic has a Serbian background and the alleged sledge would appear to be a reference to the tensions between Serbia and Albania relating to the Kosovo War.

The Austrian player denied after the match that he was a racist, but did offer his apologies after admitting that a heated running battle with the opposition got out of hand.

Arnautovic posted a message on social media on Tuesday to say sorry following the incident which led to accusations he had racially abused opposing players.

"There were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to APOLOGIZE — especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania," Arnautovic said in a statement posted on social media on Tuesday.

"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."

Incident condemned on social media

However, the incident - and UEFA's response in only banning Arnautovic for one game - have been widely condemned on social media.

Austria's captain and coach defended the player after the match, claiming Arnautovic reacted badly to harsh words directed at him by North Macedonian players.

"I just wanted to celebrate with him and I didn't realise he had had words with the North Macedonian player," Alaba told reporters at a press conference after the match.

"He had to put up with some bad words from the opposing players and out of emotion he reacted in that way."

Arnautovic had come off the bench in Bucharest and coach Foda admitted he had been in line to start against the Dutch at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

"We thought about maybe putting him in the starting XI but now we will have to have a rethink," said Foda, the German who took over as Austria coach in 2018.

"He was provoked from some North Macedonian players and out of emotion he over-reacted, but he admitted his mistake and apologised immediately after the match."

with agencies

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