PM says sports needs to be given back to athletes

Commenting on an ultimatum the Bridge party made on Monday when it asked for a replacement of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) leadership, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday that "sports needs to be given back to athletes."

In light of his meeting with HNS president Davor Suker and other HNS officials scheduled for this afternoon, Plenkovic said the meeting was organised before Sunday's match between Cibalia and Dinamo which provoked numerous criticism over a suspicious penalty shot awarded to Dinamo. The referee is suspected to have granted the win to the football club from Zagreb by awarding the contentious penalty shot.

"We arranged the meeting earlier. The meeting represents the continuation of dialogue. I am interested in quality football and sports in general, the safety of those attending sporting events so that they can enjoy sports. Croatia is about to play a very important qualifier in a few weeks and we will talk preparations for that game and security aspects. The meeting will also be attended by Interior Minister Vlaho Orepic. This is the main intention of the meeting and it has nothing to do with Sunday events," Plenkovic said.

There have been accusations of widespread corruption in Croatian football for quite some time.

The prime minister said amendments to the legislation regulating sports would be proposed in the third or fourth quarter of the year, adding that State Secretary for Sports Janica Kostelic and her associates were working on a solution.

Plenkovic also announced the setting up of a council for population revitalisation. The Ministry of Demographics is drawing up a document to that effect, the prime minister said.

Text: Hina

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