Zagreb, 2018.
SUMMARY REPORT ON THE 3rd ROUND OF THE HT FIRST CROATIAN SOCCER LEAGUE
Under the framework of the “Direct Protection of Fan Violence” project, CHC observers monitored the games of the 3rd round of the HT first Croatian soccer league, and based on direct insight and collected data recorded the following events.
GNK DINAMO – NK SLAVEN BELUPO 2:1
About 2.500 spectators watched the match of the 3. Round of HT first Croatian soccer league, played on Augst 10. 2018., at the Maksimir stadium in Zagreb. Among them, there wasn’t a too big group of Bad Blue Boys (GNK Dinamo) noticed, just about 400 of them, while the guest team supporters weren’t noticed at all.
The match was played in a correct manner, without any incidents, except for one smoke box that was activated by the BBB in 79. Minute.
NOTE: A day later, on the same stadium , NK Lokomotiva and NK Rudeš played a match on which a group of Rudeš boys sang an ‘Ustasha’ song, but a reaction from the officials was again nowhere to be seen.
HNK RIJEKA – HNK HAJDUK 1:1
The match of the 3. round of CFF (Croatian football federation) first league between HNK RIJEKA and HNK HAJDUK was held on 12.08.2018., at the Rujevica stadium in Rijeka, in front of around 7100 watchers, from which around 1000 were members of Armada (HNK Rijeka fan club), and about 200 were members of Torcida (HNK Hajduk fan club).
Before the match, from the north section of the stadium which houses the members of Armada, a chant:”Tovar pussies” was heard, while on the southern section of the stadium, which housed the members of Torcida, a chant:”And the purger, and Rijeka fan, with fists and feet, with bottles and sticks, everything for our Hajduk”, which was repeated even after the match started, up to 3′ minute of the match.
In 12′ minute, from the northern section of the stadium, “Tovarske pičke” was heard again. In 27′ minute Torcida chanted:”Filthy Rijeka, stinky city, I will kill half of your Armada, filthy Rijeka, you are full of serbs, don’t worry Rijeka, there are still plenty of trees”, on which the most of the spectators on the western section of the stadium replied by swearing, showing middle fingers and showing three fingers pointed towards the southern section of the stadium which housed the members of Torcida.
In 32′ minute, after a referee decision (foul on a Hajduk player), most of the spectators whistled and sweared, and in 36′ minute “Tovar pussies” was heard again from all over the stadium. In 46′ minute, Torcida chanted: ” Armada – a handful of misery”, and in 47′ “Jebo vas Miško” could be heard, which was aimed towards HNK Rijeka president, Mr. Mišković.
In 52′ minute the northern section of the stadium again chanted :”Tovar pussies”, on which Torcida replied :”Kvarner gypsies” and “Serbs from Rijeka”.
In 76′ minute, on the southern section of the stadium, 7 flares and one flashlight were lit up, and all of the flares, during the period of 3 minutes, were thrown on the pitch, just behind the back of HNK Hajduk’s goalkeeper. Even though firemen reacted quickly, Torcida members accidentally lit up one of their own posters which caused a smaller fire, but a quick response from the firemen prevented any serious damage on the stadium.
In 84′ minute, after a debatable referee decision and an awarded penalty for Hajduk, tensions on the northern section of the stadium escalated and chants :”Gypsies” and “Tovar pussies” were heard, which was followed by swearing and throwing different objects on the pitch, among which were plastic cups, bottles but even chairs which have been ripped of the stands and thrown into the Rijeka’s goalkeeper area. In 86′ minute, after different items were thrown on the pitch, a chants was heard from the northern section of the stadium :” HNS faggots, you’ve fucked up football” and “Mamić you gypsy”. After the match ended, from the northern section of the stadium “Tovar pussies” was heard again.
Note: Even though the ‘Adriatic derby’ was marked by a large number of insults and provocations which have been coming from the stands through the whole match, the captain of Hajduk, Josip Juranović, thrilled the spectators on the stadium with his fair-play move. Juranović recognized a referee mistake, and after the wrongly given foul for Hajduk, he gave the ball back to Rijeka players, on which the whole crowd on the stadium got on their feet and applauded. This move must serve as an example that fair-play has a key role in sports, even when rivalries such as the one between Rijeka and Hajduk are the ones in question.
NK OSIJEK – NK ISTRA 3:0
The match of the 3. round of CFF (Croatian football federation) first league between HNK Osijek and NK Istra was held on 12.08.2018., at the Gradski vrt stadium in Osijek, in front of around 2.000 watchers, most of them members of Kohorta. The match was played in a good atmosphere and without any incidents.
For the Croatian helsinki committee:
Ivan Zvonimir Čičak
President