Hooliganism in Croatia spills into directors box as four senior officials are arrested during manic derby fixture
After Hajduk Split equalised with Dinamo Zagreb in the dying minutes, a ten-man brawl broke out between directors of both clubs.
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CROATIAN football has once again been thrust into the spotlight, as four directors were arrested after a brawl broke out during a Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb fixture.
As the game drew to a close the officials, including a president and chief executive, threw punches inside the director's box.
Hooliganism in Croatian football has been a longstanding issue, just this week it was announced that Rijeka have been forced to play their next European fixture behind closed doors after fans' unruly behaviour in Italy.
Hajduk and Dinamo have a long-standing chequered history and met for the second time this season as part of the Croatian First League.
The game had a thrilling ending as Hajduk were given a Penalty in the 94th minute, to secure a draw, which caused the board members to disagree in dramatic fashion, according to .
Tensions spilled from the pitch into the director's box, during the derby game, and Hajduk's president and Dinamo Zagreb's chief executive were taken into custody.
The clash between the senior officials was confirmed by police, but there were no other reports of violence between the 25,000 fans that gathered for the fixture.
Antonela Lolic, a police spokeswoman told Goal that following the altercation in the VIP box at Poljud Stadium ten people were brought to police station to give a statement.
The scuffle between Hajduk president Ivan Kos, director of football Mario Branco and Dinamo chief executive Tomislav Svetina and financial director Matej Skegro was reportedly triggered by scoreline celebrations.
Police in heavy armour rushed to the VIP box to calm the situation between the men clad in suits.
Footage shared online showed the fanatical fans' setting off flares and streamers in a game that was labelled 'the biggest in Croatian football'.
Dinamo Zagreb finished in second position in their domestic league last season and currently sit top of the table.
Hajduk Split are seven points behind their rivals and sit in third place.
They faced Everton in August and drew their first playoff round of the Europa league
