Croatian water polo teams have refused to compete at a pool in Kotor, Montenegro, due to its name, prompting European aquatic sport's federation to postpone the match until a resolution is reached.
Croatian water polo teams and players have declined to play matches at a pool in Kotor, Montenegro, because the facility bears the name of Zoran Gopčević, a former water polo player associated with the Morinj camp during the early 1990s. This refusal has garnered support from Croatian institutions and highlights lingering tensions related to historical events from that period. In response, the European aquatic sports federation has intervened, postponing the match until a solution can be found.
The dispute has raised questions regarding the upcoming match in the European competition between Kotor's Primorac and Dubrovnik's Jug. The European federation made the decision to delay the first leg of the round of 16 match pending a resolution on where and when it will be rescheduled. This ongoing issue reflects broader contexts of national identity and memory, particularly among Croatian athletes who are sensitive to historical ties associated with the Yugoslav wars.
Efforts to relocate matches from Kotor have been ongoing, as Croatian teams have refused to compete in a venue linked to a figure they perceive as a war criminal. This incident underscores the challenges faced in reconciling past grievances with contemporary sporting events, and it will test the federation's ability to manage the political dimensions of sport in a region still recovering from its historical conflicts.
