UEFA to investigate Arnautovic incident in North Macedonia game
Arnautovic grabbed his team’s final goal in the closing minutes of a 3-1 triumph in Bucharest after coming on as a substitute during Sunday’s Group C clash.
Media reports said the 32-year-old directed comments at opposing players in the aftermath, with Austria captain David Alaba seemingly attempting to calm his compatriot down.
The Football Federation of Macedonia submitted an official letter to UEFA demanding the most severe punishment possible following what it described as a “nationalist outburst” towards Ezgjan Alioski, who has Albanian roots.
Arnautovic, who is of Serbian descent, issued a statement via social media on Monday to apologise for “some heated words”.
Serbia does not recognise the independence of its former province Kosovo, while there is historic tension between Serbia and North Macedonia.
“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,” Arnautovic posted on Instagram.
