Serbia bans player for refusing to sing anthem

Belgrade: Serbian midfielder Adem Ljajic has been suspended from the national team for refusing to sing the national anthem before his country`s friendly match against Spain, the Serbian Football Federation announced.

The Fiorentina midfielder, 20, received the ban after explaining to coach Sinisa Mihajlovic that he would not sing the anthem out of principle and did not plan on changing his position, the federation said. The federation insisted this contravened a "point of agreement" that Ljajic had signed in order to make him eligible for selection for the national team However, the door to the team was not closed and Ljajic will be invited back should he promise to join in with the singing in the future, the federation said. Ljajic made his Serbia debut in 2010 and has seven caps. The team failed to qualify for Euro 2012, finishing third in Group C behind Italy and Estonia. Ljajic was mired in controversy earlier this month when his sarcastic hand-clap at being substituted in a Serie A game, led Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi to lose his patience and punch the winger in the dugout. IANS