The Croatian FA has been fined 30,000 Swiss francs ($27,700) for the racist behaviour of fans during the World Cup qualifier against England [Images] earlier this month, FIFA said on Thursday.

"The Croatian Football Federation ... received a warning regarding its future conduct. Further infringements would lead to more severe sanctions by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee," the world governing body said in a statement.

The English FA complained to FIFA after England players were racially abused by Croatia fans during their 4-1 victory in Zagreb on Sept. 10.

• Images from the World Cup qualifiers

"Racism has no place in football," a FIFA said. "FIFA is determined to continue broadcasting this message around the globe and deploying all of the means at its disposal to eliminate this form of discrimination."

Croatian FA Secretary-General Zorislav Srebric said he saw the fine as the most serious warning.

"We are not happy about it because any such fine means less money for soccer development in Croatia. However, we understand this as the most serious warning to stick firmly to all FIFA regulations," an online edition of the Jutarnji List daily quoted Srebric as saying.

"The fight against racism or any other form of discrimination must be insisted upon on a daily basis," he said.

Croatia's football federation was fined nearly 12,500 euros ($18,410) for the racist behaviour of fans at the team's Euro 2008 [Images] quarter-final against Turkey in June.

The English FA welcomed FIFA's decision.

"We repeat our position that we will not accept any racial abuse of any England players. There can be no place for racist behaviour in football or society," it said in a statement.

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