The Croatian and Greek football federations on Thursday agreed to bar visiting fans from next month's 2018 World Cup play-off tie over safety concerns.

"A joint decision of the national federations is... not to sell tickets to visiting fans" for the two matches, a Croatian Football Federation (HNS) statement said.

The decision, reached at a meeting in Athens which was also attended by police representatives, was made after "taking into account all risk factors and security evaluation".

FIFA, UEFA and other relevant bodies were informed about the agreement.

The first leg will be played in Zagreb on November 9, with the return fixture three days later in Piraeus.

Croatian football has been blighted by hooliganism in the past and the country hit with a series of sanctions, notably for throwing flares and chanting pro-Nazi slogans.

Croatia finished runners-up in Group I of European World Cup qualifying, securing a play-off place by defeating Ukraine 2-0 in Kiev earlier this month.

Greece, the 2004 European champions, came second in Group H.