<!--Article Start--> <p style="text-align: justify">Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic on Wednesday pleaded with UEFA not to expel his country from the European Championships because of a swastika scrawled on the pitch used for an international.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Milanovic wrote to UEFA president Michel Platini saying he was "worried over the fate of the Croatia squad from disciplinary proceedings which resulted from a 'sad incident.'"</p> <p style="text-align: justify">UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings for racism against the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) over a swastika drawn on the pitch used for Croatia's 1-1 draw with Italy in a Euro 2016 qualifier on June 12.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify">The European body is to announce its action on July 16 and Croatians fear an international ban. The team leads qualifying Group H ahead of Italy.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I appeal you not to let the Euro 2016 go ahead without the participation of all the best squads," said the prime minister.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Milanovic said a "draconic sanction" would "destroy the squad, leave a deep scar on Croatia's fans and harm football in Croatia in the long term."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Police have filed charges against the HNS and two officials for negligence. The perpetrators have not been identified however.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">UEFA had already ordered the Croatia-Italy match to be played behind closed doors as a punishment for fan violence and racist incidents when Croatia played Norway earlier.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The HNS has publicly apologised for the swastika, which it labelled an "act of sabotage."</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p> <!--Article End-->