Rosenhof: Story » fans in a pro-Nazi chant after the team qualified for

GENEVA -- FIFA has banned Croatia defender Josip Simunic for 10 games -- including the entire World Cup -- for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after the team qualified for the tournament in Brazil. Simunic invoked a World War II-era slogan used by Croatias then-puppet regime following a 2-0 playoff victory against Iceland last month. "After taking into account all of the circumstances of the case, and particularly given the gravity of the incident, the committee decided to suspend the player for 10 official matches," FIFA said in a statement. The incident is the latest to discredit football in Croatia, after UEFA President Michel Platini described its fans as the worst behaved at the 2012 European Championship. The sanction also reflected FIFAs commitment this year to tougher sanctions for racism and discrimination at matches. Croatia coach Niko Kovac, a teammate of Simunic at the 2006 World Cup, said the ban probably ended the 35-year-old defenders national team career. "Im unpleasantly surprised, shocked and disappointed by FIFAs ban of Simunic," Kovac said. "Im primarily sad for Simunic who will miss the World Cup. I know him for long as a player and a person and Im sure he did not want to offend anyone." Kovac said the Croatian football federation would appeal to FIFA. If that fails, a challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport could follow. Croatia hosted Iceland in Zagreb on Nov. 19 for a decisive qualifying match after a 0-0 draw in the first leg. After the match, Simunic took a microphone on the pitch and shouted to supporters: "For the homeland!" The fans responded: "Ready!" FIFA said Monday that the salute was "discriminatory and offended the dignity of a group of persons concerning ... race, religion or origin." Simunic will miss the whole World Cup tournament in Brazil and is also barred from the stadiums where Croatia will play its next 10 games. Simunic said he felt "bitter and shocked," according to Damir Vrbanovic, managing director of Croatias football federation "It is clear that FIFA wanted to send a strong message with this draconian punishment," Vrbanovic said. FIFA also fined Simunic 30,000 Swiss francs ($33,800) and ordered the Croatia football federation to pay a fine of 70,000 Swiss francs ($78,700). Simunic previously defended his action, saying he was driven by love for his country. The Australia-born player famously was sent off at the 2006 World Cup against Australia after receiving three yellow cards. In a separate FIFA disciplinary verdict Monday, Croatia star forward Mario Mandzukic was banned for just one World Cup match for a red-card challenge against Iceland. Mandzukic will miss the tournaments opening match when Croatia plays host Brazil in Sao Paulo on June 12. "We knew that Mandzukic will be punished and in that context we are happy its a one-match suspension," Kovac said. 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Shaun Alexander Youth Jersey . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville backup quarterback Reggie Bonnafon ran for two touchdowns and passed for another and the No. 25 Cardinals scored on nine straight possessions in a 66-21 victory over Murray State on Saturday night. After an opening-game test by Miami on Monday night, Louisville (2-0) cruised past its downstate opponent. The Cardinals followed a first-possession punt with the offensive outburst first-year coach Bobby Petrino envisioned, and the list of contributors was long. Besides Bonnafons two TDs, three other Louisville backs rushed for scores. Three receivers caught TD passes from the true freshman and sophomore starter Will Gardner, who threw two in just over a quarter of action. The Cardinals had 357 yards at halftime, 21 more than they totalled against Miami as they outgained the FCS-level Racers (1-1) 603-292. Bonnafon ran for touchdowns of 8 and 16 yards and threw a 27-yard TD pass to Michaelee Harris. Brandon Radcliffe rushed for second-half touchdowns of 7 and 5 yards, and freshman L.J. Scott ran for 126 yards and a 1-yard TD on 11 carries. Senior Dominique Brown added a 2-yard TD run before Louisvilles underclassmen picked up where he left off. The result was a high-octane offensive performance that delighted 50,179 red-clad Cardinals fans and Petrino, who insisted that his team would improve from its showing against Miami. Janawski Davis had TD receptions of 57 and 9 yards, and Jeremy Harness had a 16-yarder for Murray State, which was outmatcched in every phase by the Cardinals.dddddddddddd So much so that Bonnafon almost stole the spotlight from Gardner in his first game action. He had pushed hard for the starting job before Petrino chose the more-experienced Gardner to lead Louisvilles offence. Gardner appeared much smoother than Monday, completing 13 of 22 for 133 yards and touchdowns to Kai De La Cruz and Gerald Christian before Bonnafon followed. More importantly, he set the tone for an offence that rolled no matter who was in there. After that initial punt, Louisville scored on its last seven first-half possessions with an 11-play, 32-yard march ending with John Wallaces 45-yard field goal being the longest. By then the Cardinals had a 42-7 lead behind two touchdown passes from Gardner and a 2-yard run by Brown with contributions from Bonnafon and Scott. Scott followed his 68-yard sweep run with a 1-yard TD five plays later to cap an 83-yard drive that put Louisville up 21-7 and really get things rolling. Bonnafon relieved Gardner early in the second quarter and added an 8-yard TD run and a 27-yard TD pass to Harris. The Cardinals fast pace resembled Murray States last week against NAIA Union College, a game in which Racers senior CJ Bennett hit five short TDs to establish a school record for a first-time starter. Other than hitting Davis with a screen pass for the 57-yard touchdown, Bennett had little success against Louisvilles overwhelming defence in finishing 8 of 19 for 93 yards. ' ' '