During the pre-match announcement against Istra 1961, the Hajduk coach's name was met with whistles, while the captain was greeted with applause, confirming the divided atmosphere within the club.
The atmosphere at Poljud before Hajduk's first home league match of the new season was anything but unified. On Saturday, August 9, 2026, just before the clash with Istra 1961 in the 2nd round of the SuperSport HNL, the fans sent two completely different messages to the key figures of the team.
As the announcer read out the lineups, the reaction to the name of coach Gonzalo Garcia was loud and unequivocal. Whistles echoed from the stands, repeating the scenario the Argentine tactician had already experienced in European matches. It was a clear sign of discontent from a section of the fans, especially given the turbulent weeks and speculation about his relationship with the captain. Interestingly, Garcia was booed at Poljud despite a convincing 5:2 victory over Žalgiris in Vilnius just days earlier, highlighting the depth of divisions among the supporters.
As reported by Slobodna Dalmacija, Hajduk entered the match with added confidence following that European win, and tonight they aimed to continue in the same vein in the league against the team from Pula. However, the reaction from part of the crowd to Garcia's name was so loud that, according to eyewitness accounts, Poljud literally "thundered, but not in a pleasant way."
Just moments later, the nature of the sound in the packed Split stadium changed completely. When the announcer said the name of Marko Livaja, the captain and best player of the Whites, Poljud responded with thunderous applause. With this act, part of the audience clearly showed whose side they are on in the current situation within the club. It is worth noting that Livaja started this match on the bench, which further emphasizes the symbolism of the support he received from the stands.
This contrast comes after a period of much talk about Garcia's decisions and his dynamic with Livaja, and just days after the team secured a convincing 5:2 victory over Žalgiris in Vilnius, taking a big step towards the European playoffs. According to media reports, during the player roll-call, the fans clearly showed that their support for the team would not waver, but a completely different reaction came when the announcer said the coach's name.
The match itself against Istra 1961, which started at 9 PM, was an opportunity for Hajduk to redeem themselves after the opening defeat in Varaždin and to secure their first points in the domestic championship. On the other hand, the team from Pula was also looking for a response after losing at home to Lokomotiva in the first round. An exciting first half saw Hajduk take the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from Rokas Pukštas, but Istra equalized just before the break with a stunning free-kick from Emil Frederiksen in the 42nd minute, leaving the score at 1:1 at halftime.
Despite the fact that the stadium was not filled to capacity due to the heavy, warm Split night, the message from the stands before the referee's first whistle was crystal clear and divided, outlining all the complexity of the moment the Split club finds itself in. The whistles directed at Garcia gained even more weight in the context of the rest of the match, as questions arose about whether the Whites would find a way to take control and secure the much-needed victory.
