Former Dinamo Player on the Scandal in Slovenia
Fran Tomek endured a dramatic match for Koper. His own fans hurled ethnic slurs and threats at him. He also revealed he's in his third season at the club and how many times he played under injections.
Fran Tomek endured a dramatic match for Koper. His own fans hurled ethnic slurs and threats at him. He also revealed he's in his third season at the club and how many times he played under injections.
Croatian footballer Fran Tomek, a former Dinamo player, went through a harrowing experience during Koper's league match against Brinje from Grosuplje in Slovenia. A section of the home fans subjected the 24-year-old midfielder to ethnic abuse and serious threats, which he later publicly denounced on social media.
The incident occurred during a sensitive period for the club. Koper had just suffered a painful exit from the Conference League qualifiers against NSÍ Runavík from the Faroe Islands, followed by a league draw against a newly promoted side. The frustration of some fans then spilled over into unacceptable behavior beyond any sporting criticism.
Tomek took to Instagram after the match. "Yesterday I experienced something that has nothing to do with football. Our 'fans' insulted me based on my nationality. They called me a Ustasha and insulted my family. I also received certain threats," he wrote. In an interview with the portal Planet Nogomet, Tomek detailed what happened on the sidelines. "Leo Rimac and I were at the corner flag. The insults were first directed at me, and a bit later at him. They also insulted Iličić and our assistant coach, so mostly the four of us. However, during those fifteen minutes, the brunt of the insults was aimed at me. It seemed like they came there specifically to hurl abuse."
The most severe words came in the form of direct threats. Tomek revealed what was shouted at him: "First they said I was a Ustasha and that I should f*** off from the club. Then they said: 'We'll break your legs, take off that jersey.' At that moment, I tried to focus on the game, but you hear everything from the side, and it affects you afterwards."
The fan group Tifozi criticized the players, including Tomek, for allegedly laughing after the European exit. He firmly denies this. "Me, laughing? Whoever saw that, let them say it out loud. After the match, I stood on the bench, staring at the pitch, unable to believe we were eliminated. Believe me, I wasn't laughing at all. I apologized to some fans and left, and then I heard the insults," he stated for Planet Nogomet. He added that the whole situation deeply affected him. "My teammates and I had to listen to those insults. I watched and couldn't believe what was happening. It hit me hard; this is my third season at the club, and I won't even mention how many matches I've played under injections... I really don't deserve this kind of treatment. My attitude towards the club has never been poor."
He stressed that poor results should never justify such behavior. "I understand the fans are disappointed, but so are we. Things have been going wrong lately, but we're still a very good team and we want to rise. Those who think it's okay to insult like this shouldn't support the club at all. We need support, not threats. I believe everything can be resolved in a better way. We'll sit down at the table, talk, and do what's best for our club and our city."
Tomek says this is the first time he has faced such attacks in Koper, where he has been playing for two years, now in his third season. "Yes, this is truly the first such incident, and I hope it will be the last. When your own fans say such things to you, you can't feel completely safe in the club, nor can you relax," he said.
The club contacted him after the incident. "In the meantime, they called me from the club. They're trying to find a way to resolve the situation. We'll see in the coming days what happens," Tomek revealed. A query about the incident was also sent to the Slovenian top-flight club, whose response is still pending.
Fran Tomek came through the youth ranks at Dinamo and Inter Zaprešić, and even reached the second team of the Zagreb club. He never made an official appearance for Dinamo's first team, but he did play once in the Croatian top flight for Gorica, ironically against Dinamo. He continued his career at Dubrava, and in January 2024, he signed for Koper. He has established himself as a regular starter in the Slovenian side. Last season, he scored nine goals in 27 league appearances, and Transfermarkt values him at €500,000. He has also represented Croatia at youth levels from U15 up to U20.
Meanwhile, his former club GNK Dinamo hosts FK Kauno Žalgiris at Maksimir on Tuesday evening in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The match kicks off at 8:00 PM.
