Dejan Lovren explains his controversial gestures: “It has nothing to do with fascism.”

“It has nothing to do with fascism,” Lyon recruit Dejan Lovren, who is accused of singing a neo-Nazi song during post-Nazi celebrations, claims this Friday, January 6, in an interview with AFP. Responding to the controversy, the Croat recalls another song, “patriotic”.

“I already explained everything in Croatia about this video on YouTube, but it was not accepted in France,” he says. For me, this is a patriotic song that is related to my country, which means that I love my country. The song we are talking about is not “For the house of Spremni”, but “Kavoglav”, not fascist at all. It goes back to the liberation of the country and the glory of Croatia, which we all sing to celebrate the happy occasion. My country has been fighting for its independence, which it recently gained and is still being built. »

“I supported Black Lives Matter”

After returning to Croatia and celebrating 3rd place in the World Cup, several videos actually showed him gesturing and singing songs in praise of the Ustaše, a pro-Nazi Croatian movement that emerged during World War II. “I was attacked,” Lovren continues. We distort immediately in a negative direction, without referring to the correct song. It has nothing to do with fascism. So I’m surprised. I arrive in Lyon with a positive energy that I want to show on the pitch and pass on to my teammates. »

Lovren is then resurrected due to controversy surrounding a tweet from last April in which he unfollowed streaming platform Disney+ due to its new policy of inclusion of the LGBT movement. “I have been active, especially for FIFA and UEFA, against discrimination, racism, especially in support of Moise Keane from Juventus or recently Samuel Umtiti, and for the rights of refugees defending the centre-back. I also supported Black lives matter. I have always thought that there is no place for discrimination in the world of football and now I am being attacked about it. As with LGBT, never had a problem and I never had a problem with all of these items. In Lyon ten years ago, I also helped the foundation with several operations against discrimination. »