Perisic in the middle of bizarre row as Croatian FA sack translator on the spot ahead of Wales

IVAN PERISIC was at the centre of a bizarre lingo row last night after Croatia sacked the Uefa translator midway through their pre-match media conference in Wales. The Bayern Munich winger was on press duties at the Cardiff City Stadium ahead of tonight’s (Sun) Euro 2020 qualifier. But, remarkably, Croatia press officer Tomislav Pacak stepped […]

IVAN PERISIC was at the centre of a bizarre lingo row last night after Croatia sacked the Uefa translator midway through their pre-match media conference in Wales.

The Bayern Munich winger was on press duties at the Cardiff City Stadium ahead of tonight’s (Sun) Euro 2020 qualifier.

Reuters

But, remarkably, Croatia press officer Tomislav Pacak stepped in just six minutes into the 16-minute media session because the translation from Croatian to English was deemed not good enough.

Pacak said: “If you don’t mind I will translate the rest of the press conference because you are missing out some pieces of information that Ivan has said.”

The Croatia FA official brutally axed the translator after he mistranslated a question posed to Perisic.

The 30-year-old wideman was asked did he agree with Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale that Croatia were favourites for the crunch showdown in the Welsh capital.

But the translator got it horribly wrong when his answer claimed two players had made those comments rather than Wales’ manager and talisman.

That was the final straw for the Croatian FA chief who cut him off immediately.

Perisic and manager Zlatko Dalic, who was sat next to the translator, looked stunned by the response.

But Pacak stated afterwards he had real concerns over the standard of the translation and had fears over future answers.

The Football Association of Wales say they use translators recommended to them by Uefa.