Football legends of Croatia and Slovenia unite to help areas hit by earthquake

During this event, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin presented a 50,000 EUR donation to the Croatian Red Cross on behalf of UEFA, while president of the Croatian Football Federation Davor Šuker presented a 200,000 HRK donation to the Sisak Moslavina County Football Association, which will be used to repair local football infrastructure that suffered damage from the earthquake. The Football Association of Slovenia and their president Radenko Mijatović also joined this charity initiative and donated 5,000 EUR to local football club Mladost.

“When I heard about the tragic earthquake in Petrinja, I spoke over the phone with Davor Šuker, and we began discussing ways in which we can help in this situation. Football is about solidarity and friendship, which is why we decided to organize this match and why UEFA has made this donation. The Croatian Football Federation and the Football Association of Slovenia and their president Radenko Mijatović also joined with donations of their own. I’m glad that this charity event has been a success,” said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

“As soon as this tragic earthquake struck, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and I spoke on the phone and we agreed that we wanted to help – we decided to play this charity match in Petrinja and we searched for the best date to organize it. I want to thank president Čeferin and the UEFA Executive Committee for choosing to make this donation. As president of the HNS, I’m also happy that we ourselves could help the Sisak-Moslavina County Football Association with our donation. The most important thing right now is to provide everyone in this area with a roof over their heads – and all forms of help are welcome in achieving that goal. It doesn’t matter who won on the pitch today, because taking part in this initiative is a win for all of us,” said president of the Croatian FA Davor Šuker.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

“It's great to come together today in Petrinja, and we're lucky that the weather has served us well. We happily embraced this idea by Aleksander Čeferin and Davor Šuker. The Football Association of Slovenia was glad to join this initiative, and I believe that we’ll make life at least a little bit easier for the people in this area and for the local football club,” said NZS president Radenko Mijatović.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

“I want to thank everyone who took part in this match – the players of both team, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, and HNS president Davor Šuker – for this wonderful football event. This area has suffered severe damage during the earthquake, and I hope that today can serve as an important step forward. The atmosphere at the match was fantastic – it’s a shame that the current pandemic is still too serious for spectators to have been allowed at this match. I want to thank everyone once again for helping Petrinja and Sisak-Moslavina,” said member of the HNS Executive Committee and Sisak-Moslavina County Football Association President Davor Ivić.

“Sports – and football, in particular – have a special way of uniting us. Athletes have joined disaster relief efforts in this area since day one and have helped in countless ways. We thank UEFA, the HNS, and the NZS for organizing this event and we thank UEFA for making this donation, which will help those who have been hit by the earthquake. We’re proud that the Croatian Red Cross could take part in this charity activity,” said executive president of the Croatian Red Cross Robert Markt.

This friendly charity match reflects the longstanding friendship between the football associations of Croatia and Slovenia, which also worked together to organize a friendly match in September 2020 in Kranj, at which the home team celebrated with a 3:2 victory. Slovenia won this time around, as well, though Croatia initially took the lead with a successful penalty kick by Davor Šuker. The guest team turned the score around with goals by Milivoje Novaković and Milenko Aćimović, and Slovenia ultimately reached a close 2:1 victory. Higher advisor to the HNS president Zorislav Srebrić took on the role of Croatia head coach for this match, with current Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić, former head coach Miroslav Blažević, and Dinamo legend Marijan Vlak assisting him in his role.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

UEFA CROATIA – UEFA SLOVENIA 1:2
PETRINJA – Mladost Stadium. Referee: Ivana Martinčić. Assistant referees: Sanja Rođak-Karšić and Maja Petravić. Fourth official: Jelena Kumer. Goals: 1:0 Šuker (45’-11m), 1:1 Novaković (60’), 1:2 Aćimović (63’).
UEFA CROATIA: Marijan Mrmić, Stipe Pletikosa, Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban, Aljoša Asanović, Ivica Olić, Petar Krpan, Dario Šimić, Darijo Srna, Daniel Šarić, Niko Kranjčar, Igor Bišćan, Boris Živković, Silvio Marić, Mihael Mikić, Nenad Pralija, Tomislav Dujmović, Robert Špehar, Marko Babić, Željko Pavlović.
UEFA SLOVENIA: Robert Volk, Aleksander Čeferin, Primož Gliha, Miran Pavlin, Milivoje Novaković, Milenko Aćimović, Boštjan Cesar, Mišo Brečko, Radenko Mijatović, Aleksandar Radosavljević, Goran Barišić, Tomaž Vesel, Silvo Vrhovec, Andrej Vrhovec, Robert Beguš, Tomislav Čizmić, Mladen Džanan, Branko Ilić, Mitja Sojer, Jože Prelogar, Robert Beguš.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

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