Referee Commission Confirms: Penalty for Hajduk Was Justified
The SHNL Commission analyzed controversial decisions from the first round, with particular attention drawn to the situation in the 87th minute of the match in Varaždin.
The SHNL Commission analyzed controversial decisions from the first round, with particular attention drawn to the situation in the 87th minute of the match in Varaždin.
The SuperSport HNL Referee Commission published a detailed analysis of controversial moments from the first round of the new season on August 4, 2026. The focus was on the decision to award a penalty to Hajduk in the closing stages of their away match against Varaždin, which the Commission confirmed was entirely correct.
The key moment of the match occurred in the 87th minute when Hajduk's number 7 entered the penalty area with the ball. Varaždin's number 8 tripped him and brought him down. Although the referee, Kolarić, was well positioned, he initially judged that the attacker had simulated, awarding an indirect free kick and showing him a yellow card.
Following a VAR intervention and an on-field review, the decision was overturned. In its analysis, the Commission highlighted three key technical elements that justified the final decision: the defender did not touch the ball, the movement of his right leg presented a clear obstacle, and contact with the attacker's leg was evident. Consequently, the Commission fully supports the VAR intervention, the awarding of the penalty, and the rescinding of the caution for simulation.
In addition to the penalty for Hajduk, the Commission commented on three other controversial situations. In the match between Istra 1961 and Lokomotiva, referee Pavlešić disallowed a goal by Istra's number 30 in the 32nd minute after a VAR intervention due to offside on number 22. Although the attacker was about five meters away from the goalkeeper, the Commission deemed this decision borderline, expecting the initial on-field decision to stand.
In the 90th minute of the same match, VAR recommended an on-field review for a potential offside on Lokomotiva's number 4 after the ball had already crossed the goal line. It was determined that there was no clear interference with the goalkeeper, no physical contact, and no impact on his line of sight, so the Commission supported the decision to award the goal.
The third situation involved the match between Gorica and Osijek, where referee Vukančić awarded a penalty to the visitors in the 12th minute. Gorica's number 45 continuously held Osijek's number 48 by the upper part of his shirt, which the Commission deemed a clear foul and fully supported the referee's on-field decision, including the caution issued.
