World Cup: Croatia players impose media boycott over nude photos
Croatia’s Vedran Corluka, left, and Brazil’s Hulk challenge for the ball during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia, the opening game of the tournament, in the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 12, 2014. AP FILE PHOTO
ZAGREB — Croatia’s World Cup squad have launched a World Cup media boycott in protest at the publication of photos of players swimming naked at their Praia do Forte base.
The pictures notably featured international defenders Vedran Corluka and Dejan Lovren swimming naked in their hotel pool.
“This is not only in Croatia, it is spreading throughout the world,” said coach Nico Kovac after the photos appeared on several Croatian online news sites.
“It’s easy for me to talk but I’m not part of this story. I respect their opinion. What can I do? I cannot pull them by the ears and say “let’s go talk to media.”
Croatia lost their opening World Cup match 3-1 to hosts Brazil in Sao Paulo on Thursday.
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