HNK Hajduk Split has received official confirmation that the penalty awarded in their match against Rudeš was correct. The Croatian Football Federation's refereeing commission, led by Bertrand Layec, published its analysis this week of the only disputed situation from round 5 of the SuperSport Croatian Football League.
The commission fully supported referee Antonij Škobić's decision. The penalty was given after a dribble by Hajduk's attacker wearing number 23 in the visiting team's penalty area. Rudeš defender number 44 brought down the attacker with a sliding tackle.
Bertrand Layec explained the reasoning behind backing the referee's call. "After a dribble in the visiting penalty area, Rudeš's defensive player number 44 brought Hajduk's attacker number 23 down on the grass," Layec said. The commission noted that Škobić was in perfect position to make the decision.
The analysis was based on the commission's technical guidelines regarding sliding tackles. "In accordance with our technical guidelines concerning sliding tackles, we consider that a defender must be punished if contact is clear and affects the movement of the opposing player," Layec added. In this specific case, the defender first struck the attacker's right foot before making contact with the ball.
The Croatian Football Federation published video footage of the disputed situation along with an audio recording of communication between the main referee and the VAR room. This transparency is part of the commission's new approach aimed at improving understanding of refereeing decisions among fans and professionals.
All details of the awarded penalty are now publicly available. The footage clearly shows the moment of contact between the two players. The audio recording reveals quick and clear communication between the on-field officiating team and the video assistant.
This news comes as Hajduk is achieving excellent results in the competitive season. The team currently leads the HNL table with 13 points from six played matches. They have recorded four wins, one draw and one loss, with their last five matches ending in a WWWWD sequence.
The attacking efficiency of the Whites from Split is particularly impressive. They have scored 15 goals while conceding only five, giving them a goal difference of +10.
Hajduk has achieved four wins in the first six rounds. This form gives additional momentum to the team preparing for upcoming challenges. The current standings can be analyzed in more detail in the official standings overview.
The next challenge for Hajduk will be a home match against NK Slaven Belupo. The encounter is scheduled for September 12, 2026, at Poljud. Slaven Belupo currently occupies 8th place in the league, promising an interesting duel.
Preparations for this match are already in full swing. The complete schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page. Hajduk fans can hope for a continuation of good form given the current league leadership and the recently confirmed correctness of the refereeing decision that earned them points against Rudeš.
The team will seek to take advantage of home ground against Slaven Belupo. Given the strong start to the season and clear refereeing explanations, the Whites from Split have extra motivation to continue their successful run. The match against Slaven Belupo will be an opportunity to strengthen their lead at the top of the league.
