Boban's War

Maksimir Stadium: Dinamo Zagreb v Red Star Belgrade:
Sunday 13th May 1990:

War loomed large.
With General Tito dead old hatreds thought buried resurfaced. Under his iron fist all were Yugoslav, not Croat, Serb or Bosnian. Any attempting a return to the old ways found themselves hit so hard they dare not risk Tito's wrath twice. And so the sworn vengeance of past generations lay dormant. Old vendettas put on hold.

But the bloodlust returned.

Against a riotous backdrop of pitched battles, flying seats and water cannon Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade made their entrance. Surrounding them was carnage as both sets of supporters appeared intent on tearing each other apart. The sinister Zeljko Raznjatovic, better known as Arkan came to Zagreb with his 3000 strong hardcore Red Star Delije (Tough Guys).

Hooligans, bedecked in red/white, determined to ignite world war three. The actual game was deemed irrelevant as Arkan's orders from the Belgrade hierarchy were to bring these Croats to their knees. But the home Ultras, Blue Hard Boys were hardly shrinking violets and they clashed violently with baton-welding riot police of Serb extraction.

For thirty minutes the Delije, surrounded by black clad policemen were allowed to rip apart the stadium without a single officer intervening. Finally a full scale battle ensued as thousands of Croats broke through police lines and fell upon their Serbian tormentors. With the game proving impossible to start the players retreated back to the dressing rooms.

All except one.

A beguiling, devastating midfielder, terrace idol and Dinamo Captain, twenty one year old Zvonimir Boban. Incensed on seeing a police officer battering a Zagreb supporter senseless on the floor with his baton, Boban kicked out at him and allowed the fan to flee. Immediately Boban was surrounded by Blue Hard Boys who acting as bodyguards ushered their hero to safety. In that instance Zvonimir Boban achieved living Martyr status amongst all Croatians.

That sinister evening the fuse was lit and tragically in a short time the Balkans were ablaze.