Radomir Antic fired as Serbia’s soccer coach, replaced by Vladimir Petrovic

Serbia fires Antic, hires Petrovic to coach team

BELGRADE, Serbia — Radomir Antic was fired as Serbia’s soccer coach on Wednesday and replaced by Vladimir Petrovic.

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona coach had been suspended for four matches by FIFA after insulting a referee at the World Cup, where Serbia was knocked out in the first round despite beating eventual semifinalist Germany.

Without Antic, Serbia won its opening European Championship qualifier against the Faeroe Islands, but tied Slovenia.

Petrovic’s first games in charge will be against Estonia and Italy next month in Group C of Euro 2012 qualifying.

Petrovic, a forward for Arsenal and Red Star Belgrade, has been coaching Romanian club FC Timisoara. Petrovic previously coached China’s national team, but he was dismissed in 2008 after the Asian nation was eliminated from qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

Petrovic was hired by Red Star Belgrade in 2009, but was fired after less than a year in charge.