The Municipal State Attorney's Office in Zagreb has filed an indictment against Tomislav Svetina, the former secretary general of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS). Svetina, 57, is accused of abusing his position and authority to orchestrate his re-election as president of the Zagreb Football Association (ZNS). According to the indictment, which does not disclose the defendant's identity until now, Svetina is charged with committing actions intended to obstruct other candidacies for the presidency of ZNS, thus securing his place uncontested.

The indictment specifies that the alleged misconduct took place between March 2024 and September 2025, during which Svetina allegedly undertook multiple measures to manipulate the electoral process in his favor. The State Attorney's Office (DORH) reported that one of the key accusations is that Svetina modified the statutory provision of the association without the Executive Board's proposal. This amendment purportedly limited the criteria for other candidates' nominations, cementing his position as the unchallenged candidate.

This case reflects broader issues regarding governance and ethics within Croatian sports organizations, particularly concerning the integrity of electoral procedures. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for how sports federations manage leadership elections and adhere to transparent practices in the future. This indictment not only implicates Svetina but also raises questions about the governance structures within Croatian football and the need for reforms to prevent similar abuses of power in the future.