Croatia's football chief flies in for match - and is arrested for 'shoplifting' at airport - News

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The boss of the Croatian Football Association has been arrested for suspected shoplifting minutes after arriving in the UK for his team's Euro 2008 match against England.

Zorislav Srebric, the general secretary of the eastern European country's FA, was arrested at Gatwick Airport's WH Smith store after allegedly stuffing pens and paper into his bag.

He was taken away by police yelling and screaming as stunned players from his national team looked on.

Srebric, 67, wandered into the newsagent's and book store just after the team's flight landed at 2pm yesterday. Minutes later he was detained by staff.

A police source said: "We had a call from WH Smith at Gatwick to say staff had caught an elderly, chubby man apparently pinching pens and paper.

"We went there and when we arrested him he started yelling. Even though he was Croatian he spoke good English. There were loads of sporty men hanging around and some of our lads recognised them as the Croatian national team."

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Shoplifting: The Croatian football chief was accused of stealing from a WH Smith store at Gatwick Airport

The source added: "When Srebric gave his name and said he was the head of the Croatian FA we were stunned. He seemed so dignified but was arrested for apparently doing something most commonly associated with teenagers."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "We can confirm that a 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in WH Smith at Gatwick Airport."

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Ready to celebrate: Croatian football fans get in the mood for tonight's game

Mr Srebric has been released without charge, a Sussex Police spokesman said later.

He said: "There will be no further action taken."