(ANSA-AFP) - ZAGREB, FEB 3 - A controversial ultra-nationalist Croatian singer on Monday welcomed the country's medal-winning handball team back to Zagreb with a gig attended by thousands after the mayor's attempts to block the event failed. Folk-rock icon Marko Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson, is famous for a song that starts with the salute of Croatia's World War II pro-Nazi Ustasha regime, and his fans often display fascist symbols. However, at Monday evening's event in Zagreb's main square, he did not perform a controversial song. Banned in some countries, Thompson remains very popular in Croatia and drew an audience of over 400,000 last year at a concert in Zagreb. Calls to have him perform at the welcome ceremony for the men's handball team, who on Sunday won bronze at the European Championships, met with opposition from the local left-wing government. The players had requested that Thompson fete them on their return. The mayor's opposition sparked outrage from right-wing and conservative politicians in the national government, who labelled it "ideological censorship". The national government eventually intervened and said the event would go ahead with Thompson. "You always bring joy to the whole nation, so it is only right that we return the favour," Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told the handball players at an official reception. (ANSA-AFP).