Hello Mamić (66), the long-time ruler of Dinamo and a fugitive from the Croatian judiciary, once again stirred spirits. In an interview with ZonaSport TV, he made a series of serious accusations that shed new light on the background of Croatian football. The one that included the former prime minister resonated the most Ivo Sanader and allegedly saving the biggest rival, Hajdukfrom relegation to the “league for fools”. Mami, who lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina after being sentenced to six and a half years in prison for embezzling more than 15 million euros from Dinamo, claims that politics is deeply involved in HNL.
‘I wouldn’t let the prime minister go, even to my own mother’
Mamić returned to the 2004/05 season, when Hajduk was in a difficult situation and was threatened with finishing in the league for survival.
– Then the most powerful man in the country, cheering Hajduk and one of the most powerful people in Europe, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, asked me to let Dinamo play Hajduk. So that Hajduk would not end up in the league for fools – Mami explained.
His answer was, he said, to let go.
– I told him: “Prime Minister, that’s out of the question. I wouldn’t let my mother go”. But, as I am not stupid to defy and defy him, I told him to let me go and to guarantee him that Hajduk will not end there. I gave him the wordč – he added.
He also revealed how he did it. He claims that he used his influence to get the key match postponed.
– The first thing I did was that the match did not take place. It was raining. The referees throw the ball, it bounces normally. The conditions were for the game. I told the referees that the match cannot be played. We exerted pressure – admitted Mami, adding that in the continuation of the championship “everything was done” for Hajduk to stay in the league.
In the end, Dinamo won 1-0 in the last game at Poljud.
– Everything is terrible – he concluded.
Štimac was my most dangerous rival
He put the whole story in the context of the great rivalry with Hajduk, which he was leading at the time Igor Štimac.
– Štimac was my most dangerous sports rival. He was the leader of Hajduk in his time as well Branka Grgića i Freddy FiorentiniHajduk robbed us of two titles. And not only that, but they put us in the “league for fools” – said Mamić.
He also recalled the recent statements of the former football player Sandra Linićawho, as claimed by Mamić, confirmed that the matches were played only so that the “blues” would end up in the bottom house of the table. Mamić finally made the point:
– The point is that Hajduk relegated us to the fool’s league with an agreement with Zagreb, and as a member of Dynamo, I saved čast Hajduk from ending up there.
From the war with the judges to the plea to Milanović
Mamić in his public appearances, he regularly lashes out at the Croatian judiciary, which he calls a “mafia system”. He claims that five years ago he handed over a USB stick with evidence against corrupt judges to the institutions, but there is no progress.
– Someone will die, someone will retire peacefully, and I will remain locked in my golden cage. It is a mafia system that a person can hardly imagine – he declared.
– I did not take a single euro from the club. I raised and saved Dinamo, and they made a criminal out of me – repeats Mami, who called numerous judges and prosecutors, claiming that he has evidence of their criminal activities.
In one of the recent addresses, he publicly addressed the president Zoran Milanowhom he asked for pardon.
– I am asking him, in my name, but also in the name of my brother and son, to grant us grace. I am not ashamed to ask that from a man whom I sincerely appreciate. Zoran Milanović is a president with character and integrity. I can see how much he is affected by the situation in the judiciary and I believe that he will not remain deaf to this request – said Mami.
While waiting for the outcome of the legal battle against him, Mamić he spends his days in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he helps his daughters with solar power plants. The media appearance ended on a conciliatory tone.
– I sincerely apologize to everyone whom I unintentionally hurt with my behavior, be it egotistical, arrogant or unsympathetic. I want to find peace within myself and live the rest of my life with dignity – he concluded.