Istria on the Move: HNS Reduces Number of Young Players
New protected year rule in Third NL sparks strong reactions from Istrian clubs, who see it as a step backward and a blow to youth development.
New protected year rule in Third NL sparks strong reactions from Istrian clubs, who see it as a step backward and a blow to youth development.
The plenum of Third NL West clubs, held at the Rijeka Football Association offices in Kantrida, was marked by strong discontent among Istrian clubs over the new rule regarding young players. At the proposal of the Croatian Football Federation's Competition Commission, the previous requirement to start matches with three protected-year players who must play at least 45 minutes has been replaced by a more lenient criterion.
Under the new rule, which takes effect at the start of the 2026 season on August 29, clubs will need to have two young players on the field during the first half. This change is the result of a compromise after the Third NL South and North leagues, led by Slavonian clubs, initiated a request to reduce the number of young players to just one, claiming that young players are "blackmailing" them with high financial demands.
Toni Draguzet, a member of the HNS Competition Commission, explained the background of the decision but did not hide his dissatisfaction with the compromise reached. "We understand the problems faced by clubs in Slavonia and some other parts of Croatia-fewer children, population outflows, and simply no one to play-but we should not be giving ground on this front because it is a step backward," Draguzet said.
He particularly highlighted the gap between the Third and Second NL as problematic. "If the Second NL has four protected-year players for the full 90 minutes, then it is not natural for the league below to have only one, and only in the first half," he added, revealing that his proposal for two young players to be on the field for the entire match was rejected.
The harshest criticism came from Aleksandar Nerlović, a representative of Jadran, who called the new decision "bizarre, to say the least." "This is lowering the standards, and it makes no sense. If we have been fighting for certain conditions and standards for years, if clubs are working in that direction, investing in young players, giving them opportunities, sometimes at the expense of results, now that after several years you reach a level where you have endured those young players and they have become an important part of the squad, they come up with the idea to reduce the requirements," Nerlović said.
He emphasized that most clubs from Istria and Rijeka's Lokomotiva did not support this change, while those who do not invest in youth development accepted it. "Instead of insisting on even these minimal conditions we have, they are retreating, and it looks like a circus," he concluded.
Dragan Jovičić, president of Pazinka, reacted similarly. "It is clear that this decision has no basis in anything we advocate for, which is progress and giving opportunities to young people. Pazinka's stance is that this makes no sense because it does not encourage clubs to work with the younger generation; quite the opposite. It is obvious that preference is being given to clubs that do not work with youth categories," Jovičić stated.
He further warned of announcements of even more lenient criteria for island clubs in the future, where U-9 and U-11 age groups would count among the three mandatory categories. "In the end, it turns out that we have stricter conditions at the county level, which is nonsensical and unnatural," concluded the Pazinka president.
The Third NL West season begins on August 29, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The only change in the league's composition compared to last season is the entry of Rovinj instead of Novalja. In the first round, the following matches will be played: Rovinj, Vinodol, Pazinka, Pomorac, Jadran Poreč, Nehaj, Naprijed, Kraljevica, OŠK Omišalj, Rudar, Halubjan, Banjole, Buje, Lokomotiva, and Crikvenica, Krk.
