The Croatian Football Federation held their annual Assembly on Thursday where questions of returning the national team to Split were answered.
The Croatian Football Federation held their yearly Assembly on Thursday, where 43 out of 57 assembly members were present. There were no critical conclusions, and the theme of the meeting was primarily Croatia’s brilliant showing in Russia. The idyllic atmosphere, however, was briefly interrupted when an Assembly member requested President Šuker return the national team to Split, reports Gol.hr on December 20, 2018.
As was expected, the leitmotif of the Croatian Football Federation’s annual Assembly was the World Cup silver in Russia, which was remembered by Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I watch and repeat this – there are always the same emotions and almost tears. This will never go away!“ Dalić said.
Davor Šuker, president of HNS, addressed the congregation with the following words:
“I would like to thank our beloved president, who was at almost every game, and I would like to thank Prime Minister Plenković, who, as far as his obligations were concerned, was at the World Cup. Now that I am going back and thinking of this, I can see pictures from the lodge.”
The Federation also praised the 43 million kuna invested in the renovation of infrastructure, including the new fields for five First League clubs. But in the next year – HNS will operate in a minus. Almost 12 million kuna of higher expenditures will be covered by their own surpluses from the past years – and they announced new investments in amateur football.
Marijan Kustić, HNS Director of Competition and Infrastructure, commented:
“Around 18 million kuna will be circulated that we will also give to the county federations to strengthen the base and invest in infrastructure for amateur football.”
The near perfect atmosphere at the meeting, however, was briefly interrupted by an Assembly member from Hrvace.
“I would ask you, Mr. President, and you gentlemen from the Executive Committee, to make sure that the Croatian national team, our sanctity, comes to Split. Because I do not think anyone is right to condition the arrival of the team in Split,” said Stipe Doljanin.
Šuker replied:
“I do not think anyone in the Executive Committee, or anybody in Croatia, has anything against playing in Split and I hope we will do it in 2019.”
The president of the Federation repeated the same in front of journalists, with a message to Hajduk representatives.
“You know that the citizens of Split and of Dalmatia would like to see the Croatian national team, which is the guiding principle in these talks. We can invite them to the next Executive Committee, but let’s not have any ultimatums.”
The federation has so far decided that the first Croatia national team home game for the Euro qualifiers against Azerbaijan will be played at Maksimir.
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