ZAGREB, Croatia – The lawyers for Croatia defender Josip Simunic say he has lost his appeal at sport's highest court against a 10-match ban for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after a World Cup playoff win.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is to announce the ruling later Monday. But his lawyers say they have received the ruling in advance.
The 36-year-old Simunic, who has played 105 times for Croatia, had been a probable selection for his third World Cup.
Simunic invoked a World War II-era slogan used by Croatia's then-puppet regime following victory against Iceland in Zagreb last November.
FIFA's disciplinary panel said Simunic's action was discriminatory and offensive.
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