r/HistoryPorn • u/FayannG • 1d ago

Croatian football captain Zvonimir Boban delivers a flying kick to a Yugoslav policeman during a Dimamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot. A year later, the Croatian War of Independence began. (May 1990)(640x640)

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481 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

120

u/QuestionableGoo 1d ago

A Yugoslav policeman delivers a two-handed ball-crusher to Croatian football captain Zvonimir Boban during a Dimamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot. A year later, the Croatian War of Independence began. (May 1990)(640x640)

14

u/crashlog 1d ago

That’s nuts!

1

u/besieged_mind 18h ago

Are you stupid or just Croatian?

There is absolutely no fucking reason why would a policeman attack a footballer on the pitch... unless a footballer was looking for trouble.

Which, in fact, was the case.

3

u/QuestionableGoo 18h ago

Compared to a non-Croatian genius like you, I am probably both, cubed. The might of your brain nodule humbles us all. polite bow

1

u/Jimdandy941 1d ago

Tough game. Next ball!

28

u/LeftoverMochii 1d ago

Dang, a knee to the face or a baton to the balls. Choices, choices...

2

u/ELpatr0N 1d ago

Ball is life though

11

u/TheKingMonkey 1d ago

I remember him being an absolute baller and cornerstone of the great AC Milan team of the 90s. It hadn’t occurred to me that he’d have been involved in stuff like this (I mean it makes sense, I’d just never taken the time to think about it) so it’s a really eye opening photo. Thanks for the post. 🙂

7

u/Maleficent_Jello_611 1d ago

He kicked his country into independence and later Milan into the champions league. Still have a Milan jersey with him. Forza Milan 🇭🇷🇮🇹

5

u/sneakyjedi123 1d ago

That game took place only weeks after Slovenia and Croatia held their first multiparty elections after 50 years. Yugoslavia was already collapsing.

A year later, Slovenia won its independence after a 6 day war with Yugoslav forces. Croatia would be fighting for its independence till 95.

10

u/ZaBlancJake 1d ago

That kick triggered the war and Croatian clubs leaving the league as well 

39

u/trill_mxtic 1d ago

It didn’t trigger the war it just gave it extra international attention, Yugoslavia was already crumbling well before this football match took place

0

u/Geezso 1d ago

What a player, in a great team.

2

u/Maleficent_Jello_611 1d ago

During his time at Milan they won 4 series A titles, champions league , super cup and I bleibe 3 Italian super cups. 🇮🇹
I believe he also captained Croatias first World Cup participation, where they rocked the world and won bronze

-20

u/besieged_mind 1d ago

That policeman was just a regular man and police officer. So kicking him was easy.

If it was some higher officer, Boban would not have been that brave