England's upcoming Nations League fixture against Croatia will take place in an almost empty stadium, as the Croatian Football Federation serves a punishment imposed following incidents of supporter misconduct earlier this year.
The match, scheduled for Saturday in Rijeka, will see only a limited number of spectators inside the venue rather than a full house. This marks the second time the two nations have met at this same stadium under such conditions, having also played out a goalless draw behind closed doors back in October 2018.
The restrictions stem from the behavior of Croatian fans during a Nations League encounter against France in March of this year. During that match at the Stade de France, a group of Croatia supporters allegedly performed Nazi salutes, prompting authorities to detain seven individuals on suspicion of the offense. However, all seven were subsequently released without facing prosecution due to insufficient evidence to support the claims.
Adding to the disorder that night, Croatian fans in their designated section of the stadium also ignited fireworks, further escalating concerns about crowd control and conduct among the traveling support.
As a consequence of these events, governing bodies have continued to enforce sanctions on Croatia's matches. This was evident just last weekend when Croatia secured a 2-1 victory away in the Czech Republic, a game in which the team was barred from having any traveling fans present inside the stadium.
The punishment now extends to the home fixture against England, meaning Croatian supporters will largely be shut out from witnessing their team compete on home soil in Rijeka. The partial closure reflects ongoing efforts by football authorities to hold the federation accountable for the actions of a faction of its fanbase, even as questions remain about the fairness of collective punishment given the lack of prosecutable evidence in the Nazi salute allegations.
For England, the empty stands will create an unusual atmosphere as they look to continue their Nations League campaign. Matches played without significant crowd support often alter the dynamic of a fixture, removing the typical noise and pressure that home supporters can generate, which may work to the visitors' advantage psychologically, even if it has no bearing on the actual football being played.
This is not the first time England have experienced this particular stadium under similar sanctioned circumstances, and the recurring nature of these punishments against Croatia raises broader questions about the recurring disciplinary issues facing the federation. The 2018 behind-closed-doors match, which also ended goalless, now serves as a point of comparison for how both sides might approach a contest lacking the usual matchday energy.
Croatia's recent run, including last week's win in the Czech Republic without any away support, suggests the team has managed to perform despite the sanctions affecting their fan engagement. Whether that form continues against England in another subdued environment remains to be seen.
The football governing bodies have not indicated when or if these restrictions might be lifted for future Croatian fixtures, leaving open the possibility that further sanctions could follow should similar incidents occur again. For now, Saturday's match in Rijeka will proceed with a significantly diminished crowd presence, a direct result of the unresolved fallout from the incidents in Paris earlier in the year.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.