The defeat to Varaždin in the Derby of the North took a backseat after Slaven Belupo fans unleashed a torrent of criticism on social media about the match organization, particularly the concession stand at the stadium.
Slaven Belupo suffered a painful home defeat to Varaždin 1:4 last night, but judging by the reactions on social media, the Pharmacists' fans were far more angered by what happened off the pitch. Organizational shortcomings at the stadium in Koprivnica, especially those related to the catering offer and ticket prices, sparked a wave of discontent.
After the match, Slaven's coach Mario Gregurina did not look for excuses. "Currently, there's a big difference in quality; they look like a real team that's been together for two years, while we're in a process of adaptation and getting used to each other. Some are also adjusting to the city, the weather conditions, and only then to the pitch and football demands," Gregurina said, alluding to the cohesion of Nikola Šafarić's squad.
However, the real shock for fans came at the concession stand. A user named Teorija Velikog Šanka summed up the frustration in three points: "Problem #1: They split the kids at the stand and there was no beer for 25 minutes! Problem #2: When the beer arrived, it was warm, and it took 20 minutes to pour one, and the line stretched to the Miklinovac. Problem #3: The management is leaving!"
This comment triggered an avalanche of similar reactions. Matija, a fan from Varaždin, added even harsher criticism: "Shame on the club's concession stand! 40 minutes of waiting for warm beer. And the ticket prices are better left unmentioned. Charging kids €15. But thanks for the points. Greetings from Varaždin."
It was the ticket prices, especially for the youngest, that sparked additional fury. Zvonko was stunned by the club's move: "They charged €15 for a 3-year-old grandchild... really nice..."
Dejan, meanwhile, expanded the criticism to the overall impression of the club's functioning at the start of the season: "The season has started, but it seems everyone at the club is on vacation. Last season's jerseys, no one to work at the stand, turnstiles not working, only ticket prices are higher. Players and coaches are preparing for the third, fourth round. Now, for the management, players 22, 23, 24 can go to Herešin; for them, Liber and Lepinjica are spaceships."
Despite the anger over long waits and lukewarm beer, some fans showed understanding for the people working behind the stand. Marko pointed out: "I feel sorry for the crew selling drinks; they're not at fault at all, just like us who paid for tickets," clearly indicating that the responsibility for the chaos lies not with them but with the organizers.
In addition to criticism, there were attempts at dark humor. Aleksandar briefly commented on the defeat with an ironic "We had them!", which was probably the only thing that could make Slaven fans laugh last night. Comments also heated up on the Facebook page of ePodravina, where, besides fans, long-time football workers also chimed in.
