Could new football pitches be on the horizon for Croatian clubs?
A meeting was held in Zagreb on Tuesday by the representatives of the Croatian Football Federation, along with representatives of Croatian First League clubs and city officials to discuss the topic of renovating pitches at Croatian stadiums, reports Goal.hr on December 13, 2017.
The project’s objectives are to provide a shorter winter and longer summer break for the First League, reduce the number of injuries, adjust the calendar to most European leagues, reduce the costs for winter preparations, unify the fields where the Croatian First League matches are played, and thus allow better conditions for football players and a greater appeal to viewers at the stadiums and watching on the small screens.
HNS
HNS, therefore, gathered representatives of clubs and cities for the meeting in Zagreb to present the project and take the necessary steps as soon as possible, ahead of the works scheduled during the World Cup in Russia. The goal of HNS is to finish the job by the beginning of the new competition year so that the upcoming season will see First League teams playing on perfect and impeccable pitches.
The Croatian Football Association will donate HRK 3,500,000 to each club, which will be used to set up hybrid football pitches, install appropriate drainage and irrigation, heating and the first year of maintenance. The clubs are expected to finance the project documentation, and the cities are expected the finance the preparatory communal works.
The Croatian Football Association will conduct a public call for clubs and cities in January 2018, and in February 2018, will publish an international public tender for the main contractor. After that, they will sign contracts with clubs, cities and the main contractors, after which preparatory works will be completed and all permits completed.
At the meeting in Zagreb, representatives of all the invited clubs and cities besides HNK Hajduk and the City of Split were present with the officials of HNS and Uefa representatives.
Translated from Goal.hr
