Suker re-elected as Croatian Football Federation president

Croatian football legend Davor Suker has been re-elected for a new four-year presidential term at the Croatian Football Federation (CFF) Election Assembly held here.

The 49-year-old has been at the helm of Croatian football since July 2012 and he is the second longest serving CFF president after his predecessor late Vlatko Markovic who led the organization from 1998 until 2012, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I am excited because we know what continuity means in football. As a player I've learned the basics of teamwork," Suker on Friday said in his speech after he has been given the new term.

"The national team qualified for the World Cup in Russia and we can mark this year, as well as the previous three, as a successful period of Croatian football. Let's be proud of our successes," the former Real Madrid and Sevilla added.

Suker scored 45 goals in 69 matches for Croatia. He starred in the 1998 World Cup, where Croatia got their best result of finishing third.

Even though the vast majority, 48 of the 52 present members, voted for Suker, three abstained and one was against, the Assembly didn't go as smooth as it seems. Four representatives from Dalmatia pointed out that this Assembly isn't legitimate and they decided to leave the meeting.

"I hope for a better future of Croatian football but not with this group of people. We have to change those people," said HNK Hajduk president Ivan Kos, one of the four representatives that left the Assembly meeting.

"We had information that they will say a few words and leave the meeting," Suker said at the press conference after the Assembly meeting.

The only representative that voted against Suker's re-election was Dario Simic, former Suker teammate in the Croatian national team, who led a campaign as a possible presidential candidate but didn't get enough votes to be Suker's rival at this Assembly meeting.

"I can't say that I lost because the match never happened. I got great support from the people that I've spoken to. My team and I will always be ready for the dialogue and I wish for the Croatian Football Federation that will have an open door policy," Simic said in his speech.

--IANS

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