Croatia v England in Rijeka played behind closed doors, with ticket loophole
England's Nations League match at Croatia's Stadion HNK Rijeka was played without home fans under a UEFA sanction, but children's tickets and 100 England fans meant the ground was not empty.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2England played Croatia in the Nations League at Stadion HNK Rijeka on Saturday 3 October 2026, a match officially played behind closed doors because of a UEFA sanction on the hosts. Evening StandardN “their second successive away match in the competition is to be, mostly, played behind closed doors.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Radio TimesN “The Croatia v England match in the Nations League on Saturday is being played behind closed doors due to a UEFA sanction against the hosts.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1The sanction relates to crowd trouble at Croatia's Nations League quarter-final against France in March 2025; Radio Times says pyrotechnics were set off and several Croatian fans were arrested on suspicion of making Nazi salutes, then released without prosecution for lack of evidence. Radio TimesN “Pyrotechnics were set off in the Croatian section and several Croatian fans were arrested on suspicion of making Nazi salutes during the fixture, though subsequently released without prosecution due to a lack of evidence.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1The Evening Standard says the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) paid a fine of around £80,000 and faced disciplinary proceedings over fans' racist and discriminatory behaviour, and that on 19 May 2025 UEFA ordered Croatia to play their next home fixture without supporters and to serve a one-match ban on away fans. Evening StandardN “The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) paid a fine of around £80,000 and faced disciplinary proceedings relating to fans’ racist and discriminatory behaviour.”“On May 19, 2025, UEFA ruled that Croatia would play their next home fixture without supporters as well as serving a one-match ban on their fans travelling away.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1Croatia's later home games against Montenegro, Gibraltar, the Faroe Islands, Belgium and Slovenia were FIFA-sanctioned matches, so England were the first visitors in a UEFA competition since the France tie and the ban applied to this fixture. Evening StandardN “As such, England are the first team to visit Croatia in a UEFA competition since the France match.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2The Football Association argued that England fans should not be punished, and UEFA relented in part: the England Supporters Travel Club was given 100 complimentary tickets for active 2026-2028 members. Radio TimesN “The FA appealed that ruling and argued that their fans were being unfairly punished.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Evening StandardN “with the England Supporters Travel Club handed 100 complimentary tickets to give to active 2026-2028 England Supporters Travel Club members.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2Radio Times reports England confirmed in September that all those attending have at least 314 all-time caps, meaning they have been to at least 314 England internationals; the Standard says preference went to those with the most caps and that registration closed at midday on Friday. Radio TimesN “all of the fans present at the game have at least 314 all-time caps” Read at Radio Times ↗ Evening StandardN “Fans reportedly had until midday on Friday to register their interest, with preference said to have been given to those with the most “caps” for attending previous matches.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The Evening Standard, citing The Times, reports the stadium could be up to 75 per cent full because Article 73 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations exempts children up to 14, accompanied and invited free by schools or football academies; UEFA first expected about 3,000 children plus guardians, but the HNS now expects 5,500 to 6,000 in a ground with a capacity of 8,279. Evening StandardN “the stadium could be up to 75 per cent full due to Article 73 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations”“The HNS now expects between 5,500 and 6,000 children to attend” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Radio Times, by contrast, describes a reserved, sterile atmosphere with only 100 travelling supporters in the ground and does not mention the children's exemption. Radio TimesN “That's because the game is being played without home fans and with just 100 travelling England supporters in the ground.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1England manager Thomas Tuchel said he was happy for the children attending and glad that 100 or 200 loyal fans could come, but that playing behind closed doors is "never nice" and a "strange atmosphere", and that the squad could not treat it as pre-season. Evening StandardN “To be behind closed doors, it's never nice. It's a strange atmosphere.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1England came into the game after a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic, with Croatia, now managed by Slaven Bilic for a second spell, having beaten the Czech Republic 2-1 and then lost 4-1 to Spain; England beat Croatia 4-2 in Dallas at the World Cup in June, and their previous Rijeka visit, in October 2018, was also played behind closed doors after a swastika was marked on the pitch. Evening StandardN “Slaven Bilic has returned for a second spell as Croatia manager, winning his first game back 2-1 against the Czech Republic last week before a 4-1 loss at the hands of world champions Spain.”“That was a result of a swastika being marked on the pitch ahead of Croatia's Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets explain why the game had no home crowd. The Evening Standard leads with the loophole letting thousands of children attend; Radio Times gives a viewer-facing explainer on the UEFA ruling and the FA's partial win.
- Emphasis
- The Standard stresses the Article 73 exemption, the 5,500-6,000 expected children and Tuchel's comments; Radio Times stresses the sanction's origin, the FA appeal and the 100 England fans.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Radio Times leaves out the children's exemption and Croatia's fine; the Standard does not mention the Nazi-salute arrests or that they ended without prosecution.
- Charged language
- “loophole”“sterile atmosphere”
- For example
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“Saturday’s Nations League game in Rijeka is supposed to be behind closed doors, but there’s a loophole” — Evening Standard
“Radio Times explains why the Croatia v England game in the Nations League is being played behind closed doors.” — Radio Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The match was played at Stadion HNK Rijeka as a Nations League fixture behind closed doors under a UEFA sanction on Croatia.
- The sanction stems from fan trouble at Croatia's March 2025 Nations League quarter-final against France.
- The FA won 100 complimentary tickets for England Supporters Travel Club members.
Where accounts differ
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What the away-fan ban covered
- Centre
- The Evening Standard says UEFA imposed a one-match ban on Croatia's fans travelling away; Radio Times says Croatia were not allowed away fans for their Nations League opener against the Czech Republic.
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How empty the stadium was
- Centre
- The Evening Standard, citing The Times, says it could be up to 75 per cent full thanks to children's tickets; Radio Times describes a sterile atmosphere with only 100 England fans and does not mention children.
England national football team organisation
England, through the FA, argued its fans should not be punished and won 100 tickets; manager Thomas Tuchel welcomed the children and loyal fans but called closed doors "never nice" and urged focus.
“The FA appealed that ruling and argued that their fans were being unfairly punished.” — Radio Times
“I am glad that our 100 or 200 fans have the chance to be here.” — Evening Standard
Croatia national football team organisation
Croatia, via the HNS, serves the UEFA sanction, invited children from football academies and local schools, and expects 5,500 to 6,000 of them; it paid a fine of about £80,000 earlier.
“The HNS now expects between 5,500 and 6,000 children to attend, having been invited from football academies across Croatia, and from local schools in the Rijeka area.” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Why Croatia vs England stadium could be '75 per cent full' for behind closed doors clash today
Mixed Match preview that frames the closed-doors rule as partly undone by a children's-ticket exemption, with Tuchel's quotes and history.
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Why are there no fans at the Croatia v England Nations League game? UEFA ruling explained
Neutral Explainer on why there are no home fans, focused on the UEFA ruling and the FA's appeal.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 3 Oct 09:26 First Evening StandardN Why Croatia vs England stadium could be '75 per cent full' for behind closed doors clash today
- 3 Oct 16:00 +6h 34m Radio TimesN Why are there no fans at the Croatia v England Nations League game? UEFA ruling explained
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.