Sports Director of Hajduk, Goran Vucevic was reported to have insulted the referee of the match Dinamo - Hajduk last Saturday at Maksimir.

The referee Ante Vucemilovic reported that Vucevic said "Shame on You, this refereeing was horrible".

Goran Vucevic explained the situation:

"First of all, I regret that after this match we have to discuss refereeing instead of football. Especially since Hajduk's performance in the derby was great but unfortunately our effort did not result in victory" said Vucevic.

"It's a nonsense that I insulted someone. The truth is that I really said what was reported, but it is my opinion, my judgement and I don't see how it could be reported as insult. I was refering to the decisions made by the referee Ante Vucemilovic and the fourth official Dalibor Conjar. It doesn't refer to assistant referees who did a great job" explained Vucevic adding:

"My impressions about refereeing were later confirmed in the analysis of refereeing experts. Jefferson was sent off and he didn't even make a faul for which he was awwarded the second yellow card, there was no faul at all. It influenced the result of the match and moreover, our player is banned from playing the next match against Split" said Vucevic.

Hajduk will appeal against Jefferson's suspension, requesting analysis of video evidence in support of the thesis that Jefferson shouldn't have been sent off. Such appeals were successfully made by some other suspended players (Zagreb's player G. Boban for example).

Vucevic concluded:

"It makes me sad that we must discuss refereeing, but we won't stop pointing out that Hajduk has been directly damaged by refereeing decisions. I think that my position of club's Sports Director gives me right to comment the match and referees. Making such kind of comments is a normal practice in football, everywhere in the world".