Serbian Player Kicked Out Over Anthem Dispute

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Serbian national team coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has kicked Adem Ljajic off the team for refusing to sing the national anthem, the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) said Monday.

"Having been informed by Ljajic that he had not sung the Serbian anthem (at a friendly match against Spain on the weekend) for personal reasons and that it will not change, Sinisa Mihajlovic told the player to go back home," the FSS said in a statement.

Fiorentina's Ljajic, a member of Serbia's Muslim minority, can return to the national team "once he informs Mihajlovic that he has changed his attitude", the statement said.

Mihajlovic, sacked as Fiorentina's coach last year, was appointed a week ago as coach of Serbia's national team on a two-year contract. He made players sign a code of conduct which included them having to sing the national anthem at games.