Croatia Players Boycott Media After Nude Poolside Photos Published

Croatia’s time at the 2014 World Cup has rapidly gone from bad to worse. Morale inside the Croatia camp was fairly low to begin with following a 3-1 loss to Brazil in the first game of the tournament. Afterward Croatia expressed its anger over a decision by the referee to award a penalty kick when Brazil striker Fred went to ground quite easily following minimal contact.

Now comes word the team is boycotting the media after nude pictures of the players at pool at the team hotel were published by a Croatian website. According to Reuters two (exceedingly creepy) photographers hid in the bushes to snap the photos of the players, including Dejan Lovren and Vedran Corluka.

Croatia coach Nivo Kovac didn’t mince his words:

"“I can’t force them to be at your disposal after what you have done to them and their families,” an angry Kovac told reporters in the team’s Praia do Forte training base. “How would you feel if someone took naked pictures of you? They are adamant that they won’t speak to you lot anymore and I don’t know whether the silence will end tomorrow or last until the end of our World Cup campaign. “I respect my players’ opinion and I also know that you have done a very professional job so far but you blew it with this one. The whole world has seen the photos.”"

Croatia plays Cameroon on Wednesday.

[H/T Max Bretos]