Magić Open About Hajduk's Biggest Misconception
Long-time top-flight coach and HNS Academy lecturer Rajko Magić spoke about the Split club's performances at the start of the season.
Long-time top-flight coach and HNS Academy lecturer Rajko Magić spoke about the Split club's performances at the start of the season.
Rajko Magić, a long-time top-flight coach and now a lecturer at the Croatian Football Federation's Academy, commented on Hajduk's performances at the start of the new season. The Dnevno.hr commentator touched on what he sees as the biggest misconception surrounding the Split club, which concerns the difference in approach between home and away matches.
Magić's remarks come after Hajduk visited Varaždin on Sunday and suffered a 2:1 defeat in the first round of the SuperSport HNL. That match, it seems, prompted the experienced expert to speak out about what he considers a key issue.
"Don't get me wrong, many say that Hajduk shows one face, a fierce one, at home, and a completely different one, powerless and timid, away. That might [...]", Magić began his analysis for Dnevno.hr, clearly alluding to the contrast in performances the Whites deliver in front of their own fans and away from Poljud.
The football commentary gains additional weight due to the events that accompanied the match itself. In the section where the visiting fans, members of Torcida, were seated, a fire broke out. According to the police investigation, using open flames, marine signal flares, and homemade incendiary smoke bombs, around 50 plastic seats were set on fire, some of which burned completely.
In addition to the fire, another 10 or so seats were damaged by force, showing cracks. In total, around 60 seats at the stadium in Varaždin were damaged or destroyed, and the amount of material damage will be determined later.
NK Varaždin filed a police report against Torcida due to the damage. The report states that an as-yet-unknown person or persons ignited a large number of pyrotechnic devices, causing a fire on the club's property. The police are conducting a criminal investigation and taking measures to identify the perpetrators.
Interestingly, the lead-up to the match was tense even before kickoff. Torcida had announced a boycott of the away section due to ticket prices initially set at 18 euros. The price was later reduced to 10 euros plus an additional fee of 1.5 euros, but the fans still came and then left damage in the stands, leading to the police report.
