Croatia Was Robbed In Two Finals

They said the Danish would be referees because they had best evaluations, but nobody evaluated the referees, Gobac says.

Croatian national handball players have made peace with their defeat in the 2009 World Handball Championship final against France, and realised that being second in the world is a huge success, but Zoran Gobac, executive vice president of the Croatian Handball Association does not wish to make peace. What is more, hw wants those who allegedly damaged Croatia to be held responsible.

“The most important thing for them is to remain in the saddle”

- We are looking into things with three, four experts and they we will decide what`s next, with cool heads. However, we saw the match very well, we were drastically damaged in the two latest finals and this is beyond normal. They robbed us of the championship – Zoran Gobac was embittered, and especially angry because equal conditions were not present for both teams during the final match.

The main man of Croatian handball, as Gobac is called, blames the “pensioners” of the International Handball Federation (IHF), who are not ready to compromise and just watch out for their back, regardless of the fact if they are damaging someone or not.

- The most important thing for them is to remain in the saddle. Isn`t it strange than most of them come from Africa and the French Handball Association aid the development of handball on that continent? Anything is possible. Who is paying back whom? – Gobac wondered, pointing out that nobody would feel pleasant once the final match is analysed.

He did not wish his words to be interpreted as dissatisfaction with second place, because he believes this is an exceptional success, however, he is aware that Croatia could have reached the very top, if they were only allowed.

- They took the championship away from us. See, for some time, the Danish were not referees for us, because we were not in good relations with them. We don`t like them, they don`t like us. We knew what was coming straight away! Isn`t it fascinating that Miguel Roca, the treasurer at the IHF, is in the referees` commission and he is not qualified – Gobac wondered, continuing that he has a singed document saying that Olesen and Pedersen were reserves for this championship.

Only Ignorant Croats Applaud IHF Mafia

The first man of Croatian handball is familiar with problems which occurred with the referees and believes that the reason for this is because the main handball federation lacks profession, and he is most troubled by lies that are being told to everyone.

- They said the Danish would be referees because they had best evaluations. C`mon, nobody evaluated the referees, this did not happen at this championship. They are telling lies to themselves. But, this will come around when some 20 greatest clubs decide to stand down from the IHF. This is the only way for things to be as they should – Gobac revealed the plan to liberate handball from the federation`s influence.

He feels most sorry for the young handball players, as well as those who are leaving, for not having known what it felt like to win gold before a home audience, but he pointed out that Croatia had potential. The country showed how competent it was by organising this championship, Gobac said.

- We have set up high criteria, because nobody has ever organised a world championship in this way before. They know it, just like all hosts after us. This is why it hurts that the French had home referees – Zoran Gobac said, expressing hope of better times, because IHF president Hassan Moustafa and his men must leave, sooner or later.

“Sandi Sola could be the new IHF president”

His departure was linked with the vice president of the Croatian Handball Association, Gobac, and supposedly, according to rumours, he is the one who should take over world handball. This is the reason of friendship with Moustafa.

- This isn`t true, I don`t have the time or knowledge for something like this. But our president [Sandi Sola] might take over such a responsible job because he does have the knowledge, he speaks several world languages and is very capable – Zoran Gobac pointed out, convinced that such a man might finally move handball and take it in the right direction.

We can now wait to see what the analysis of the final match will show and what the next step of the Croatian Handball Association will be. It is highly possible that with appeals and accusations on account of the IHF the bad situation turns worse, but luck is with the courageous.