On June 23, the UEFA announced a two-game suspension for Albanian forward Milinko Daka. This means he will be absent from the decisive group stage match against Spain and potentially end his European Championship campaign early.
The reason behind the ban is Daka’s post-match behavior following Albania’s match against Croatia. He led fans in a chant with political slogans directed at North Macedonia, which took place in front of the Albanian supporters’ section. This action was deemed highly offensive and inflammatory, violating UEFA’s strict rules. The North Macedonian Football Association lodged a strong protest, prompting an investigation by UEFA. The association released a statement calling Daka’s conduct “disgraceful.”
Realizing the severity of the situation, Daka swiftly issued a public apology on social media. In his statement, he acknowledged, “An apology is a sign of manhood. I believe it is both moral and professional to apologize to those who were hurt. If my actions after the Croatia game offended anyone, I sincerely apologize.”
Despite the apology, the ban stands. Albania will face Spain on June 24, with the match taking place in Düsseldorf.