CROPIX/Goran Mehkek: All eyes on Mr. Štimac
Written by Branko Tomasović
UPDATE: FIFA and UEFA are not recognizing Štimac as the HNS president in a press release Tuesday. Štimac may have won the battle in Croatia, but how will he win over world football’s governing body?
The Croatian Soccer Federation (HNS) was left in disarray this past weekend with the election of new president Igor Štimac. In an emergency assembly, the Croatian Soccer Federation sacked long standing president Vlatko Marković, who just two months ago won a fourth consecutive term in office, edging out Štimac by one controversial vote. A disagreement broke out after the vote as to whether or not the delegate who had casted the crucial vote was in fact a legal delegate. As a result, Štimac contested the results of that election and managed to reverse it in yesterday’s emergency assembly. However, an ousted president Marković contended that the proceedings which led to his dismissal were illegal and is now looking to UEFA and FIFA to protect his standing in the Croatian Soccer Federation. “FIFA and UEFA rules do not give grounds for this assembly,” HNS secretary general Zorislav Srebrić told reporters in Zagreb. “It is illegitimate and its decisions will be annulled.”
The ‘official’ future of Croatian soccer?
Štimac’s election was not without its own delegate voting controversy; as one delegate was caught on camera casting two votes. This anomaly was promptly dismissed by Štimac’s camp as an unfortunate technicality which had no bearing on the final results. The delegate in question, Nikola Galešić, was in the washroom before the vote began and gave permission for the other delegate, Ivica Mađer, to cast his vote in his absence. This schism in the Croatian Soccer Federation has led to plenty of speculation as to who will prevail in this titanic power struggle between Marković and Štimac; and what the consequences will be for the future of Croatian soccer. Marković clearly represents the status quo in Croatian soccer, which has recently been plagued with corruption and fraud charges, including a match-fixing scandal involving Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia’s biggest club team, as well as a financial scandal involving missing funds for the construction of a new training facility for the Croatian national soccer team.
Štimac takes the vote a second time around
In contrast, Štimac is attempting to position himself as the representative of change, in order to make the conduct of the federation more transparent and accountable. If Štimac does prevail in this power struggle, it will be interesting to see how he deals with Zdravko Mamić, the executive manager of Dinamo Zagreb, and perhaps the most powerful figure in Croatian soccer. The animosity that exists between these two individuals is well documented and the match-fixing scandal that has swirled around Mamić and Dinamo Zagreb could take a drastically different turn with Štimac as president. It is very possible that Štimac could conduct a serious investigation into the corruption charges that have long been leveled at Mamić, which could lead to some very unsavory consequences for both Dinamo Zagreb and Mamić. One thing is clear, a revolution is taking place in Croatian soccer. How this revolution plays out will likely determine the future of Croatian soccer for many years to come.
Vote or hit the head? What’s more important and how far can Marković take this slight blunder?
@Ciganski Bosanac…
What did you return from Bosna on a sailboat? 🙂
I just saw this.
Svetomire,
Absolutely. If it's for betterment of Croatian soccer, I would definitely put my loathing of Hajduk aside. My one prevalent weakness (besides eating) is that I run too much on emotion. I need someone who is more level headed than I am.
My first priorities: set up a transparent and LEGAL savez, have the repka play in cities other than Zagreb, create a training ground in Croatia proper, and update the stadiums to FIFA/UEFA standards.
I respect your vote and will throw my hat in the ring after ziva istina's innagural term.
CSR to take over HNS has begun.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
did you all forget about me 🙁
very very nice,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
And lots of successful cooperation,
you are the best!!!
Valentina
In all seriousness, CSR as a whole could run the HNS better than these schmucks in Zagreb. I guarantee it with the CSR 'stamp of approval'.
We wouldn't have to train in Slovenia, I could tell you that right now…
I would switch roles of Ante and Ziva: Ante for president.
Ante, can you control your leaning toward Dinamo? Would you look at them through the colored glasses? Or you promise to be objective?
If you can, you got the job.
Be aware of Ziva’s pessimism……
Svetomir
I accept the Vice President nomination. Shit would get done.
@Allen…..come on, it will never happen. As soon as such an idea would pop up, the BiH savez would be calling FIFA/UEFA to protest. It can never happen.
Sure, I'd let Ziva have a crack at it, as long as he's nowhere near the coaches. Otherwise most players wouldn't be "proven" until they were retired 🙂
One question though… is Ziva actually younger than Markovic?
I trust Ante B to keep him shooting straight though. And Bronk can get a shot too. I wonder how this Kvartuc exec team would do with all the "temptations" that come with the role. Would Ante be the one really "pulling the strings" 🙂
If it were me, all that I'd have is a team of Ukranian nurses to take care o my ailments, just like Qaddafi.
@Ziva Istina….is it an issue though? I know they are in BiH, but if the proper steps were taken who knows. You never know until you try. Also, I do not think they would be bottom half in the HNL, I think they would be just fine and easily in the top half, maybe even fighting for a spot in Europe.
HNL is a better league than BiH, but after Dinamo and Hajduk, I don't think there is much of a difference.
@Allen…..small problem with Siroki and Zrinski…..they are part of another country. Plus, those two teams would be bottom half in the HNL.
@Ante…..you are too kind. Its more than just who is on top. Have to get rid of all the waste within the savez.
Wow I've been nominated for the position of secretary general …My mom would be proud:)P
There is one man, and only one man that can fix Croatian soccer today…
his name is ziva istina…
How many of us on tis panel would vote for him, with Ante BBB as vice-president and King Bronk as Secretary General?
LOL if you want to get this shit done right you need to bring an outsider in and fix these issues. No Croatian will fix this issue, we need to pay some one big bucks to fix the issues and change this league around.
When looking at all the posts, it is sad when both in question to take over are no good for Croatian Soccer. I think an outsider needs to come in and fix these issues, but that will never happen haha. This league needs some one that has no ties to Croatian soccer, and will do what is best.
Am I the only one here that thinks the league should look into bringing Croatian clubs like Zrinjski and siroki Brijeg into the fold, these are Croatian clubs that could bring a little more to the table for the league, teams with a little success in European qualifying.
I'd nominate Ivan Brlekovic. Yes, he's a Purger and a dinamovac much to the chagrin of many of you but I think he'd be a legit contender who is fair. Many of you remember him putting Davor Suker in his place on Otvoreno.
Stimac pretty much ruined Hajduk, what makes you think he will do any better with more responsibility?
To me Skoblar would have been a good candidate, he showed interest in the position but he probably decided to stay in France when he saw the nonsense involved with the HNS. Only negative about him is his age (I think he is in his late 60s) but he is still involved in the sport as Marseille's main scout
They're all guilty, until proven innocent to me. If Stimac does some good, then I can trust him. For now, I don't trust any of those guys.
This is a bigger Revolution than what's happening in Africa and the Middle East!
I know President's Day was yesterday but I thought to post this quote anyway, from our first President:
"Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God". – George Washington.
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/news/newsid=1598193.html
IF we have to mae choice between Stimac and Markovic, I go with Stimac. But, that is only because of what Markovic has done and has not done during his tenure.
Stimac is no saint, but I'll give him credit for posotioning himslef as a reformer. We played on his part.
But, there is not much difference between Stimac and Mamic; both have their own self-interest at their top priority. This is all you need to know about Stimac…..when Pletikosa and Srna were sold to Shaktar, Hajduk only recieved a small percentage of the total trasnfer fee. Money was funneled to Stimac and his brother.
Im not saying that Stimac is Mr. Clean when it comes to shaddiness. In fact thats exactly what would worry me even more if I were a Dinamo fan. Stimac is a Hajduk man through and through and I can see him chopping Dinamo down a peg or two just to get Mamic the hell out of there. One thing I am sure is certain is that we will see a few more national team games in Split. This Zagreb strangle hold on Croatian soccer seems to be broken.
and this may be too good to be true. platini is buddies with markovic.
napokon. no more zagrebacki bias. even you zagrebcani can agree with that.
@King Bronk,
excellent, excellent article. Hopefully, there is a "revolution in the air." I'm not a huge for of Stimac because of his past, however, in a vote between two evils, I have to side with Stimac. Mamic has Markovic in his back pocket. Markovic was ordered by "someone" not to say a word at the election.
As far as match fixing, I believe that every club in the HNL played a part. Some of the smaller clubs were presented with offers they couldn't refuse. I wouldnt blame just Dinamo in this situation.
Stimac might not be the answer, but I think its a step in the right direction. Markovic did nothing for Croatian football the last 10 years. AT least we 'should' have a national team practice facility instead of training in Slovenia. How embarrassing.
Bronk, nice written article. However, if you think Dinamo's head will roll without Hajduk's, you're beyond mistaken. Add Croatia Sesvete, Medimurje and Zadar to the mix. Dinamo will not be relegated and if they are, Hajduk will too.
Now, we can hope that Markovic and Mamic will be arrested and taken away for a long time because in the end it's the best move for Dinamo and Croatian soccer in general.
But, if you think Stimac is the answer, may Gold help you and your brain cells. After his NU2 episode where he proved how big of a liar he is, I don't trust him. Him being a hajdukovac has nothing to do with it because he's a criminal like Mamic and Markovic.
IF Dinamo is relegated (HA!) say goodbye to future success of the NT 😉
Man, get ready, revolution is in the air, and this power struggle is going to get ugly.
If Stimac's coup is successful which so far it seems to be, Dinamo and Mamic better watch out because blood is going to flow.
Get ready for a full blown match fixing investigation and Dinamo being relegated. Mamic and Markovic could both end up in jail for different reasons. Mamic for match fixing and Markovic for fraud. I think those two pissed off way too many people and it looks like there time is almost up.