RPT-FEATURE-Soccer-Croatia moves to rid sport of violence

(Repeats feature first moved at 0002 GMT)

By Igor Ilic

ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Croatian schoolchildren could soon be taught how to behave like good sports fans in an attempt to stamp out the hooliganism and racism that have marred the country's image in recent years.

The initiative, the brainchild of a teacher, has been devised to coincide with the world handball championships that Croatia hosts in January but the primary targets are soccer fans, known for violent behaviour, racist abuse and clashing with police at home and abroad.

"We have seen enough disorder at sports events. We want to make those events a place for joy and family gathering, not a field for vulgar manners and destruction," said Bosko Lozica from the Zagreb city authorities.

The Croatian FA was fined 30,000 Swiss francs ($26,620) for racist behaviour by local fans during a World Cup qualifier against England in Zagreb last month.

Over the last three years, the Croatian FA has had to pay out more than 200,000 francs for misbehaviour by fans at home and abroad, including fights on Malta and in Hungary and insulting chants during the Euro 2008 quarter-final against Turkey.

A group of Dinamo Zagreb fans, the Bad Blue Boys, clashed violently with Czech police in Prague during a UEFA Cup tie against Sparta last week. Some 300 hundred were arrested in the scuffles and eight policemen were injured.

Top local soccer games between Dinamo and their main rivals, Hajduk Split, are considered 'high risk', attracting a heavy police presence.