WC 2014: Croatia players issue press ban after nude pics get published

Croatia’s players have issued a media ban after photos were published of them swimming naked in the team’s hotel swimming pool were published by a website, according to the Guardian. The report says that “two photographers hid in the nearby bushes and took the pictures which were published by online media.” The pictures were published by a Croatian photo agency called Cropix According to the report on The Guardian Croatia coach Niko Kovac lashed out at the press saying, “I can’t force them to be at your disposal after what you have done to them and their families. How would you feel if someone took naked pictures of you? They are adamant that they won’t speak to you lot any more and I don’t know whether the silence will end tomorrow or last until the end of our World Cup campaign.” [caption id=“attachment_1572583” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Croatia team players are seen in this file photo. AP [/caption] Kovacs added that he defended the right of his players to not speak to the press after the photo spread. Players who were caught naked in the pictures and figure prominently in the photos include: Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren, former Manchester City defender Vedran Corluka and Sime Vrsaljko. Croatia lost their opening World Cup Group A match 3-1 to hosts Brazil in Sao Paulo. They play Cameroon in their second game on Wednesday.