/ 5 May 2011

First anti-gay lawsuit against Markovic dismissed

A court has dismissed one of two cases filed by homosexual rights groups against the president of the Croatian football federation because of his anti-gay comments.

Vlatko Markovic said last year that no gay player would be included in the Croatian national team under his watch because “only healthy people play football”.

A spokesperson for the Zagreb county court said on Thursday that a judge rejected one of the cases against Markovic earlier this week.

The hearing into the second law suit will be held in June. The two cases have been filed by different gay rights groups.

Uefa has also opened a case against Markovic following his remarks.

Markovic was re-elected to a fourth term as federation president in December. — Sapa-AP