Tomašević: ‘The players insisted on Thompson. We could not satisfy that wish. We’re sorry’

We believe that the reception of the Croatian handball national team should be organized in the capital of all Croats and in the central square, as it has always been the case so far, the Association said, thanking all other cities that offered to organize the reception. They also added that representative matches will be offered to those cities so that the success of the national team can be celebrated together.

HRS also announced that the national team will land at Franjo Tudstrokman Airport in Zagreb around three o’clock in the morning, while an official reception will be organized for the players tomorrow at 12 o’clock by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi.

Shortly after the announcement of the Alliance, the mayor of Zagreb, Tomislav Tomaševi, also spoke, presenting his side of the story. He stated that the preparations for the reception started after the placement in the semi-finals of the European Championship and that the City of Zagreb and HRS previously agreed on the date, location and program of the reception in case of winning any medal.

According to his words, the agreement was that Zapreši will perform on Trg bana Josip Jela. Boysi and Hrvatske ružes with the song “Ako ne zaj sto je bilo”, which, as he states, was a favorite among handball players at both the World and European Championships. However, after winning the bronze, the national team members insisted that Thompson join the program.

Tomašević: I was surprised that the handball players made such a decision…

Tomaševć pointed out that the City could not accept such a request because it would be against the valid decisions of the city administration and the City Assembly related to the use of the Ustasha salute, which, as he says, apply to all performances. He added that Thompson violated those rules. previously violated.

“After that, the national team decided that in that case there would be no arrival in Zagreb. I was surprised that the handball players made such a decision and I congratulate them once again on the bronze medal they won”, said the Zagreb mayor.

Thus, the celebration of the great sporting success of the Croatian handball players, instead of at Ban Josip Jelačićići Square, ended in a sign of disagreements between the Association and the City, with the announcement that the national team players would celebrate their success through meetings with fans all over Croatia.