Hajduk and Istra played 2:2 at Poljud in the second round of the SHNL, but the match was marked by controversial refereeing decisions. Commentators and experts particularly criticized the lack of a VAR response to an elbow strike in the 89th minute.
The second-round SuperSport HNL match between Hajduk and Istra at Poljud ended 2:2, but football took a back seat. The visitors from Pula, despite securing a point in the dying moments, left Split with great dissatisfaction over the officiating by Mateo Erceg and the complete lack of response from the VAR room.
The key moment came in the 89th minute when, according to many observers, a penalty should have been awarded to Istra after an elbow strike. Referee Erceg did not react, and even more surprising was the silence of VAR official Matić, who did not call him over for an on-field review.
In the Hanza Media studio, Sportske novosti commentator Davorin Olivari did not mince words. "That jump and elbow strike, of course it's a penalty. It could even be a red card. If it had happened in the center of the pitch, maybe he would have been sent off. It's a classic penalty. I don't know why it wasn't called," Olivari said.
He sent a particularly sharp message directly to the VAR official. "Matić, man, how did you not call for a check on that elbow? Maybe Erceg would have said nothing in the end, but call him. I would suspend that man from the VAR room, at least for a while, so he can come to his senses and see clearly," Olivari added, not hiding his frustration.
Jutarnji list journalist Tomislav Juranović also expressed disbelief at the passivity of technology that should correct refereeing errors. "I find it unbelievable that if that elbow wasn't called immediately, there was no reaction from the VAR room. Usually, they call for all sorts of situations when there might not even be a need, and then you don't call for this. It's unbelievable," Juranović said.
He also announced that he eagerly awaits an explanation from the head of the Referee Commission, Bertrand Layec. "The Pula side had plenty of complaints about referee Mateo Erceg's officiating. I'm dying to know how the Referee Commission, or Bertrand Layec, will explain this," he stated.
Experienced coach Ilija Lončarević expanded the criticism to the overall state of Croatian officiating. "The VAR room is crucial in such matters, because I don't know why it exists otherwise. One time they intervene, the next they don't. That's not clear to me. In the first two rounds, there are already examples where the VAR room should have reacted. For me, that's catastrophic," he emphasized.
"Why don't these referees finally become professionals? I'm tired of watching referees act friendly with players. You can laugh with a player, but you can't clown around all the time. You're a referee who needs to have authority. They need to get serious, become professionals. Show that they're the bosses on the pitch. This is a farce to me and makes no sense," Lončarević said.
Despite the disappointment with the officiating, Lončarević also highlighted the positive impression left by the Pula team under new coach Javier Cabello. "They are a big surprise. Lots of new, young players, plus a few who were already there. The whole team averages 21 years old. That's something amazing, very positive," he said.
He particularly praised the club's approach, which is not driven solely by marketing goals. "You can't just throw young players into the team to boast about rejuvenating the league. In Istra, they show that it's not 'throwing them in,' but that it's about quality," Lončarević concluded. After two rounds, Istra has only one point, and they are especially hurt that, according to the interviewees, a legitimate goal by Škafara Žužić was disallowed in the first round as well.
