AC Milan striker Nikola Kalinic has returned home from Croatia’s World Cup squad due to a back injury, coach Zlatko Dalic confirmed. Kalinic was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Nigeria, with the Croatian media reporting he had refused to come on after being left out of the starting line-up.
Over the years, there have been multiple instances of players, including global superstar Maradona, being sent home from the marquee event for various violations and alleged disciplinary issues.
Here is the list of those asked to leave the game biggest stage.
Sigmund Haringer, Germany, 1934
The German defender was alleged to have missed his team’s third place playoff match for eating an orange on a railway platform without permission. The German soccer federation (DFB) denied this and said he withdrew because he was ill.
Ernst Jean-Joseph, Haiti, 1974
The Haitian failed a dope test after his side’s 3-1 loss to Italy.
Willie Johnston, Scotland, 1978
The winger was kicked out of the Scotland squad for failing a drugs test after the loss to Peru in the group stage.
Uli Stein, West Germany, 1986
The goalkeeper was sent home after he called West Germany coach Franz Beckenbauer a laughing stock.
Stefan Effenberg, Germany, 1994
The midfielder was given his marching orders for making a rude gesture to supporters after he was substituted in Germany’s group stage victory against South Korea.
Diego Maradona, Argentina, 1994
The talismanic Argentine was sent home for failing a dope test after his team’s group stage win over Nigeria.
Roy Keane, Ireland, 2002
The Irish captain walked out of the team’s base after a row with coach Mick McCarthy about the quality of training facilities, which the midfielder criticised in a newspaper interview.
Nicolas Anelka, France, 2010
The striker was kicked out of France’s World Cup squad for insulting coach Raymond Domenech at halftime during a 2-0 defeat by Mexico and refusing to apologise.
(With inputs from Omnisport)
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