When I remember, a tear drops...

„As long as I am the president of the Croatian Football Federation, this song will be played at the football stadiums, since it stands as a symbol of patriotism, pride, and the love for the homeland“, clearly stated Davor Šuker, the HNS president, to the authors of the request.

This January, Croatian Football Federation has created a poll to select the fans' anthem, to represent Croatia at the UEFA EURO 2016 and to be played at the stadium before and after Croatia's matches. Of 27,000 voters, 80 percent has selected You're Beautiful.

80 percent!

80 percent of votes for the song that was a favourite among fans, players, head coaches, staff and aficionados and to celebrate the victories of the Vatreni. 80 percent of votes for the song listened to at radio stations, parties, personal CDs; for the song that thousands of fans sing together at squares and stadiums of the world, and will also be sung on Sunday in Paris.

The self-promotion attempt of the aforementioned organizations is obvious. They have decided to hand in their request on the opening day of the UEFA EURO 2016, even though the voting results were announced six months ago.
However, we are surprised that those organizations spread hate, lies, and intolerance. Their request is full of unrelated phrases that are supposed to explain why this song represents „hate, lies, and intolerance“, as stated in the request.

The logic behind this structure can be easily understood by anyone who reads the song's lines, as did the UEFA employees in 2012, when FARE was speaking on the same subject and got rejected by UEFA. Croatian Football Federation had to invest a lot of effort into proving that there is not an ounce of hate, intolerance, or discrimination in You're Beautiful. Finally, that was proved and this song has represented Croatia at UEFA EURO 2012.
This year will be no different.

„The fans have convincingly and transparently said what we all know – You're Beautiful is a favourite among the fans as well as the players. There are no points of dispute in this song, and as long as I am the Croatian Football Federation president, I will not allow this kind of blackmail and pamphlets to deny the fans and the players the song they want to listen“, said HNS president Davor Šuker.

Croatian Football Federation, its management, and the national teams players have repeated this a thousand times, and we will do it once more – we condemn racism, discrimination, violence, and the glorification of the totalitarian regimes. HNS invests significant resources, both human and material, to prevent racism and discrimination (e.g. #MojaTribina/#MyTribune campaign), pays large fines for fan behaviour, and invests a lot of effort into calling government bodies, media, and NGOs into action to oppose this behaviour.

Instead of helping, some organizations oppose – one song.

A song desired by, we can repeat, 80 percent of the fans. A song that was sung by Croatian internationals when they secured UEFA EURO 2016 berth at Malta.

Some are obviously troubled by this fact, and due to lack of better ideas, they have decided to oppose the – victorious song.

Unfortunately for them, the same scenario is to be watched over and over again. The celebrations in Croatia locker room and the joy of Croatia fans with these lyrics...

When I remember, a tear drops,
There is a scent of memories,
Of every foot of my homeland,
And traditional folk customs.

I have recognized your beauty,
That has awakened my love,
When I'm with you, my heart,
Beats stronger, grows bigger

Oh Zagora, you're beautiful
Slavonia, you're golden
Herceg-Bosna, heart of pride
Dalmatia, my sea
One soul, and the two of us
I greet you Lika, the pride of Velebit
You're Beautiful...

When Neretva heads towards the sea,
May you then remember me,
Be the subject of my poem,
For all those who are gone...

Come on Istra and Zagorje,
Let us raise all three colours,
Let us embrace in front of everyone,
Let them see we are here...

 

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