Birmingham owner David Gold has laughed off claims by the Croatian Football Federation that English players have deliberately injured their players.

Last year Arsenal striker Eduardo broke his leg against Birmingham and on Saturday Tottenham's Croatian playmaker Luka Modric suffered the same fate.

“To suggest it's a conspiracy, particularly by our club, is absolutely ridiculous,” he said.
“I can't see an ounce of reality about it at all — I find it nonsensical.”

Croatia had already ended England's chances of qualifying for Euro 2008 when a challenge by Birmingham's Martin Taylor broke Eduardo's leg and dislocated his ankle.

The Arsenal player was out for 12 months and as a result, missed the tournament.

England and Croatia were then drawn again in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, and meet at Wembley next week in a match which could possibly confirm England's place at the finals.

And Croatian Football Federation president Vlatko Markovic thinks the timing of Modric's injury is no coincidence.

“It is terrible what has happened to us,” he said. “Maybe someone has something against us and our national team.”