# Incidents of violence in Croatian sports

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/incidents-of-violence-in-croatian-sports
> Updated: 2026-10-20T11:04:56.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 2.

Recent reports have highlighted instances of physical violence involving sports professionals in Croatia.

In a handball incident involving RK Zagreb, player Miloš Kos issued a public apology for a November 2024 locker room assault on teammate and childhood friend Matej Mandić. The altercation, which followed a Champions League match, resulted in Mandić suffering a fractured cheekbone that required surgery and caused him to miss the 2025 World Championship. Kos characterized his behavior as being ‘young and immature’.

In a separate football-related incident, NK Marsonia condemned a physical attack on coach Veldin Karić. The assault occurred in a hallway following a match against Croatia Đakovo in the Third NL East. The attacker, identified as the father of a Marsonia player, reportedly confronted Karić regarding player playing time, resulting in injuries such as a possible broken nose. Police have detained a suspect as investigations continue.

## Claims

- Vanja Marinković has received permission to rejoin team training. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The medical clearance was provided by Dr. Lasse Lempiainen following examinations in Finland. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Marinković has been recovering from an Achilles tendon injury sustained in January. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The medical team will closely monitor his return to ensure he is fully prepared for competition. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-20: Hajduk Split sanctioned by UEFA following fan misconduct

UEFA has sanctioned Hajduk Split with a stadium closure and €96,000 in fines following fan misconduct and pyrotechnics during their match against Ajax.

25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vanja-marinkovi-rejoins-kk-partizan-training-after-injury-recovery

### 2026-10-13: Miloš Kos apologizes for assault on teammate Matej Mandić

Handball player Miloš Kos has publicly apologized for the November 2024 assault on teammate Matej Mandić, which resulted in Mandić suffering a facial fracture and missing the 2025 World Championship.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/milo-kos-apologizes-for-assault-on-teammate-matej-mandi

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Cite as: Incidents of violence in Croatian sports. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/incidents-of-violence-in-croatian-sports