Photo: Screenshot / Index.hr

On Thursday, 22 October, Professor Renato Matić of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, spoke to Index.hr about the Nazi and antisemitic chants heard ahead of the Hajduk–Ajax match in Split. In an article by Vedran Salvia, he discussed the motives behind such behaviour, the influence of belonging to a football supporters’ group, and the broader social context.

Matić emphasised that messages glorifying atrocities and threatening their repetition affect society as a whole, particularly those whose family histories include persecution and the Holocaust. He stressed that ignorance of Nazism does not justify its glorification and warned of the seriousness of using such messages without understanding their gravity.

He also explained that identifying antisemitic content does not mean that all participants share the same worldview or motives. While some may act out of ideological conviction, others follow the group or seek to provoke. Understanding these differences is important in explaining the behaviour, but it does not diminish responsibility for the messages expressed.

The full article is available on Index.hr: “Matić on Torcida’s Nazi Chants: There Is No Justification for Such Messages”.

Professor Matić also discussed hate speech on Saturday, 24 October, during an appearance on Prizma, broadcast on HRT’s Channel One, addressing why hate speech is increasing in Croatia and how it can be prevented. He warned that such speech creates fear and insecurity, particularly among people with personal or family experiences of suffering. He emphasised that condemnation alone is insufficient and must be accompanied by concrete action to prevent hatred and violence.

The full programme is available on the HRTi platform.