What happened to the five nations who quit tournaments before as Serbia threaten to pull out of Euro 2024
SERBIA have threatened to withdraw from Euro 2024 over alleged chants from Croatia and Albania fans.
But what happened to the FIVE other nations who previously quit tournament football?
Serbia claim supporters from their two fellow Balkan nations chanted “kill, kill, kill the Serb” during yesterday’s 2-2 draw in Group B.
The General Secretary of the Football Association of Serbia, Jovan Surbatovic, has submitted a request for Uefa to punish both Croatia and Albania for the alleged chants in the 59th minute.
And England’s first-round opponents have even threatened to walk away from Euro 2024 altogether if no action is taken.
As the battle with Uefa carries on, SunSport takes a look at the five other teams that have pulled out of major tournaments in the past.
Scotland – 1950
The Scots withdrew from the 1950 World Cup in Brazil prior to the group stages beginning.
Before qualification, George Graham, secretary of the Scottish Football Association (SFA), said that Scotland would only travel as winners of the Home Championship.
The Home Championship was an annual footie competition contested between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland – and was used as a qualification group for the 1950 World Cup.
After England won, and Scotland finishing second, Graham refused to change his position and so withdrew the Scots.
Turkey – 1950
Turkey withdrew from the 1950 tournament as a result of financial concerns and it being unlikely they’d make it out of the group stage.
Like Scotland, it would have been their first outing on the World Cup stage but they would make it to the 1954 in Switzerland.
Austria – 1938
Austria did not withdraw themselves exactly, but were shunned out of the 1938 World Cup.
The country was forced to ‘withdraw’ due to being occupied by Nazi Germany at the time.
They made it all the way to the semi-finals at the previous World Cup, but Italy went on to lift the trophy in 1938.
India – 1950
The only team that has pulled out and not gone on to feature in the World Cup since.
India cancelled their trip to Brazil in 1950 after it was claimed they were told they were unable to play barefoot.
However, the actual reason was due to disagreements with team selection.
France – 1950
France were another team that refused to play at the 1950 World Cup.
They too withdrew due to the small chances they’d make a significant impact in the finals.
