25.11.2014 18:39 h

Croatian federation slams Hajduk Split over cancelled match

The world of Croatian football has been rocked by an unprecedented scandal after Hajduk Split refused to turn out for a match in a gesture of support for troublesome fans.

Hajduk's decision not to play Saturday's First Division match against champions Dinamo Zagreb came after police banned several dozen fans with a record of causing trouble from entering the Maksimir stadium.

The move was slammed by the country's football federation, HNS, on Tuesday, with executive president Damir Vrbanovic calling it "incomprehensible" and a "blow to Croatian football."

"We are outraged ... there is no legal framework that would give Hajduk the right not to come out on the pitch," Vrbanovic told reporters after an HNS extraordinary session.

After Hajduk players failed to appear, the referee called off the match which was eventually registered as a 3-0 win for Dinamo due to the "unjustified non-appearance of (the) Hajduk team."

Hajduk were given a hero's welcome when they returned home by several thousand fans, as officials, complaining over "unequal" treatment within the league, called for the resignation of the HNS leadership including its head Davor Suker.

They blamed the federation for "all that is going on" within Croatian football.

Hajduk fans announced a protest against the federation for Saturday to be held along the Adriatic city's historic waterfront, with thousands expected to turn out.

However, Vrbanovic on Tuesday offered an olive branch and said the federation was seeking to urgently meet Hajduk for "constructive talks".

"We want to calm tensions ... all this has gone too far," he said.

Saturday's scandal broke out less than a week after Croatian fans provoked ugly flare-throwing incidents during the country's Euro 2016 qualifying tie in Italy.

The incidents at Milan's San Siro stadium marred the November 16 match that ended in a 1-1 draw and which saw a 10-minute stoppage after visiting fans targeted goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with flares.

Italian police arrested some 17 Croatian fans over the incidents after which HNS urged the Croatian government to stamp out hooliganism.

Croatia's fans have a reputation for causing trouble and flares are regularly fired at Croatian league matches.

Dinamo Zagreb currently top the league while Hajduk Split are third.