Stars threaten soccer with field strike

LONDON, March 26: NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia threatened to trigger a boycott by Yugoslav soccer players today as Real Madrid striker P...

LONDON, March 26: NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia threatened to trigger a boycott by Yugoslav soccer players today as Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic said he would not play for the European champions if the bombing continued. The former National captain denied launching an organised political protest against the attacks but found immediate backing from colleagues playing for clubs across the continent.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Vladimir Yugovic and Real Sociedad striker Darko Kovacevic expressed their concern over NATO8217;s Action and Sasa Curcic, of England8217;s Crystal Palace, picketed the gates of 10 Downing Street, home of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

8220;If this continues then I won8217;t play against Alaves Real Madrid8217;s next opponents. Nor will any Yugoslav play for their teams, as a matter of protest,8221; Mijatovic said today. 8220;I don8217;t know if I can play football thinking that my family and countrymen are suffering. I don8217;t know if I8217;m capable of playing football in those conditions.8221;

YugoslavSoccer Federation chief Branko Bulatovic said yesterday that Mijatovic was one of three leading players who had initiated a boycott while the strikes continued.

Mijatovic received strong backing from colleagues in Spain. 8220;I agree with this completely,8221; said Jugovic. 8220;I think this is the moment to make an international protest because they NATO do not have the right.8221;

There was, however, criticism from one quarter. Radomir Antic, the Yugoslav who returned to Spanish football this week as Atletico Madrid coach, rejected Mijatovic8217;s position. 8220;I think the best thing we can do to show our pride to the world is to play, despite the fact we8217;ve all been affected by this,8221; said Antic.

In Britain, Curcic expressed his concern for his family after his Downing Street protest yesterday. 8220;Why should English and American airmen be killing our people and putting lives in danger? The nearest targets were 20 miles from my parents but missiles can go astray. I am very concerned for them, I am very concerned foreveryone,8221; Curcic was quoted by Daily Mail.

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Girondine Bordeaux defender Nisa Saveljic has returned to Yugoslavia to look for his wife and children after they had fled home in Montenegro. Defender Sinsa Mihajlovic, who plays for Italian team Lazio, said he was considering the call for a boycott.