Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Croatia will not be disqualified from the World Cup, despite calls to have them removed from the final. England were eliminated from the competition after bowing out in the semi-finals to the Balkan nation on Wednesday night. Mario Mandzukic's goal in extra-time condemned England to their fate and sent Croatia into their first-ever showpiece final, where they will face France. However since the semi-final, there has been continual calls for Croatia to be thrown out of the competition. In fact, "World Cup Croatia disqualified" has become one of the most searched for terms in Google from users in the United Kingdom since the end of the game. (Image: AFP) (Image: AMA/Getty) We linked up with our friends at football.london to list the three key reasons why people want to see Croatia kicked out of the final - and also explain why it will not happen... Rebic shown two yellows but not a red? The theory: There was some confusion when Ante Rebic was booked in the first-half of extra-time as many were led to believe he had already been cautioned in the 48th minute. It had looked on the TV like Rebic was cautioned on two separate occasions, only for Rebic to walk off and continue playing in the game. Why there is no issue: However, it turns out that after a VAR review a Croatia player was indeed shown a yellow card by referee Cuneyt Cakir but it was to Mandzukic instead for throwing the ball away. Therefore a repeat of Graham Poll's fiasco from the 2006 World Cup, when the Croats momentarily benefited from the official failing to spot he booked Josip Simunic three times, was avoided. (Image: AFP) (Image: AFP) Should Vida have been allowed to play? The theory: Speaking of bans, one player who could have missed the semi-final was defender Domagoj Vida. Following Croatia's penalty shootout win over Russia at the quarter-final stage, video footage leaked of him alongside former teammate Ognjen Vukojevic, who is currently working as a scout for Dynamo Kiev, saying: "Glory to Ukraine". This sparked controversy as there were calls for Vida to be banned. Vukojevic, interestingly, was sacked by Croatia for the gesture but Vida was allowed to continue with the team. Why there is no issue: FIFA cleared the Croatian to play against England and he went on to produce a dominant display from the second half onwards to keep Harry Kane quiet. Any action that could be taken against Vida will be by Croatian authorities after the tournament. (Image: Youtube) (Image: REX/Shutterstock) Was the standard of refereeing up to scratch? The theory: A number of England fans were left unimpressed by Cuneyt Cakir's handling of the game, in particular how he failed to issue Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren a yellow card throughout the entire 120 minutes. The centre-back struggled up against the pace of Raheem Sterling and was forced to make a number of rash challenges - he even took out Harry Kane on one occasion - yet his name didn't go into the book once. Furthermore, some fans have argued that Perisic's equaliser shouldn't have stood due to a high boot. (Image: AFP) (Image: AFP) Why there is no issue: Referees have generally had a lenient approach to carding throughout the World Cup, which has been considered by many as the best tournament for officiating in some time. FIFA cannot replay a game based on disagreements over refereeing decisions. Regardless of whether an incorrect call was made or not, the result stands.<doc-sep>FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association following a report of "possible discriminatory" chanting by England fans during Wednesday night's World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia. The governing body announced the news on Thursday, although precise details about the allegations are still unknown. FIFA says the investigation is being made into reports of offensive chants, and discriminatory behaviour by a small group of England fans during the match at the Luzhniki Stadium. A FIFA statement said: "We can confirm that a report has been filed through the anti-discrimination monitoring system in relation to chants of a possible discriminatory nature by English fans at yesterday's match," a statement read. "Subsequently, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Football Association. Further updates will be communicated in due course. As proceedings are ongoing, please understand we cannot comment further at this stage." FIFA holds member federations responsible for fan behaviour at stadiums during games, and the governing body is working at with anti-discrimination group Fare, who place expert monitors in stadiums.<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section World Cup England had their biggest following of the World Cup against Croatia in Moscow Fifa has warned the Football Association following "political chants" by English fans during their World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia. It comes after an investigation relating to the chanting of "no surrender" by supporters and other potentially discriminatory songs. Fifa said it "considered all factors", including the incident being "triggered by a very small group of fans". England face Belgium on Saturday in the third-place play-off. Gareth Southgate's team were beaten 2-1 by Croatia in Moscow on Wednesday after extra time as they attempted to reach a first World Cup final since 1966. Earlier on Wednesday, the FA was fined 70,000 Swiss francs (£50,000) after Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Raheem Sterling wore "unauthorised" socks after ignoring a Fifa warning to stop. The players wore branded ankle support socks over official Nike socks, "breaching media and marketing regulations and the Fifa equipment regulations". Fifa have now fined the FA the same amount after "two members of the English national team displayed unauthorised commercial branding on playing equipment items" during the game against Croatia. "Fifa had previously requested the Football Association to cease the activity that led to the breach and had in fact imposed a sanction on 10 July for the same infringement that had been caused by a higher number of members of the English national team," said world football's governing body. Doping tests negative World football's governing body announced on Thursday that so far all doping tests conducted before and during the World Cup have yielded negative results.<doc-sep>Mark Halsey's verdict on the Croatia equaliser REFEREE Cuneyt Cakir made the correct call in allowing Croatia’s equaliser to stand. Kyle Walker stooped to head the ball and, while Ivan Perisic’s foot was off the ground, there was no chance of the goal being disallowed. Cakir previously sent off Nani — then of Manchester United — for high feet against Real Madrid but this was a totally different situation. Nani was much higher, connecting with Alvaro Arbeloa’s ribs, while Perisic was at a fair height after stealing in at the back post as Walker ducked. The Turkish official also made the right decision by not awarding Croatia a first-half penalty. Dejan Lovren was looking for a spot-kick when he was held by Harry Maguire at the end of the opening period. There was a nudge by Maguire but football is a contact sport and that was not a penalty for me. VAR looked at the incident but it was not a clear and obvious error so they correctly chose not to review it. It was a subjective call and went with the referee’s original decision, which I felt was the right thing to do. Cakir kept a low profile and I thought he produced a fantastic display, although the players’ behaviour was exceptional. Yes, Lovren committed three fouls in the opening 26 minutes but those are the sort of challenges a referee should manage at this level. However, the Liverpool defender was one foul away from a caution for persistent infringement of the laws of the game. The officials did get one decision wrong when Harry Kane hit a post. The England skipper was onside but his shot hit the keeper, the woodwork and then the keeper again before the ball span off and a corner kick should have been awarded. But England were denied a set-piece because assistant Tarik Ongun had wrongly signalled for offside — though that would have been overturned by VAR had Kane hit the net. Cakir was correct to award yellow cards to both Mario Mandzukic for a reckless use of the arm and Kyle Walker for delaying the restart of play. VAR also checked for a handball by Walker and possible foul by Jesse Lingard but the system worked well and again there was no reason for a review. Ante Rebic was then correctly cautioned for bringing down Danny Rose in the first period of extra-time.<doc-sep>
FIFA to investigate 'No surrender to the IRA' chants during England semi-final FIFA have opened disciplinary proceedings into "possible discriminatory" chants by England fans during their World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia on Wednesday. Mario Mandzukic's extra-time goal fired the Croats into their first ever World Cup final but the FA could now face charges for discriminatory chants with 'No surrender to the IRA' believed to be one of the chants under investigation. Breaking: Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings over "possible discriminatory" chants by England fans during Croatia semi-final. — Richard Conway (@richard_conway) July 12, 2018 Fifa: “We can confirm that a report has been filed through the anti-discrimination monitoring system in relation to chants of a possible discriminatory nature by English fans at yesterday’s match. “Subsequently, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against The FA.” — Richard Conway (@richard_conway) July 12, 2018 Understand investigation DOES relate to chanting of "no surrender" plus other potentially discriminatory songs. — Richard Conway (@richard_conway) July 12, 2018 England fans were filmed singing the sectarian chant at O'Malley's Bar in Marseille at Euro 2016 and also during a friendly with Scotland in 2014. #englandfans outside the Irish pub o'malleys in #Marseille chanting "no surrender to the IRA" Makes you so proud Not pic.twitter.com/wA37RxO4Fr — Ben de Pear (@bendepear) June 10, 2016 The FA issued an apology after the chant was heard during the game with Scotland at Parkhead and consistently urged supporters to show respect and not to chant songs that could be regarded as insulting to others An FA spokesman said: “We apologise for any offence caused by a section of the England support at the match with Scotland. The FA does not condone inappropriate and offensive chanting and intends to meet with supporters’ groups to discuss the wider issues. “We have consistently urged supporters to show respect and not to chant songs that could be regarded as insulting to others - particularly from a religious or political perspective. “With regard to the supporters’ band, there was contact during the match once the situation became clear. This is consistent with regular dialogue that takes place between the band and The FA. “In also apologising, the band have given an explanation and confirmed they in no way endorse the chanting that occurred.”