Background on the Incident
More than 160 football fans were arrested in Croatia on Saturday due to violent incidents, with the most severe case involving a man suffering from a fractured junction requiring surgery. The majority of the arrests, nearly 140, resulted from a large-scale brawl between ultras of two major rival teams: Dinamo Zagreb’s Bad Blue Boys and Hajduk Split’s Torcida. This premeditated fight, reportedly agreed upon by both groups to be fought only with punching, took place in a Split neighborhood prior to the Hajduk Split vs. Dinamo Zagreb match.
Details of the Violence
- Four fans were hospitalized with injuries, including head, neck, and body wounds.
- Sixteen police officers sustained minor injuries during the melee.
- Following the game, which Dinamo Zagreb won 3-1, another dozen fans were apprehended for assaulting nearby police officers near the Hajduk Split stadium.
Impact on the Teams and League Standings
Dinamo Zagreb, a dominant force in Croatian football since winning all league titles from 2006 to 2017 (except for 2017), currently leads the Croatian league with 58 points, just three games away from the season’s conclusion. Their closest competitors are Rijeka and Hajduk Split, each with 56 points.
Hajduk Split, which hasn’t claimed the national title since 2005, aims to close the gap and secure a better position in the upcoming games.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who were the teams involved in the violence? The two major rival Croatian football teams, Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split, were involved in the violent incidents.
- How many fans were detained? Over 160 football fans were arrested due to their involvement in the violence.
- What were the injuries sustained during the brawls? Four fans required hospitalization due to head, neck, and body injuries. Sixteen police officers suffered minor injuries.
- How are the teams faring in the league? Dinamo Zagreb leads the Croatian league with 58 points, while Hajduk Split and Rijeka follow closely behind with 56 points each.
- When was the last time Hajduk Split won the national title? Hajduk Split’s last national championship was in 2005.
