In the passionate world of football, every fan has his own preferences and every coach has his own position. But a recent incident forced me to rethink what the word "loyalty" really means. The Croatian Football Federation has decided to sack Under-17 coach Jairni for publicly expressing his support for Real Betis over Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb. This decision caused quite a stir.
As a regular football fan, I can understand that a person has a special affection for the team they have played for. In an interview, Giarni said that "Real Betis have a better squad than Diner Zagreb", which in my opinion, is just an objective analysis of the game. However, in the world of football, every word can be magnified and interpreted, especially when you're in the position of a coach.
The statement of the Croatian Football Federation mentioned that "all Croatian national coaches need to adhere to higher standards, and it is inappropriate, undesirable and unacceptable to publicly support any Croatian club's opponents." This sentence made me think deeply. In a big family like the national team, unity is even more important. Every coach is not only a teacher of tactics, but also a shaper of the team's spirit. In such a position, every word and action represents responsibility to the team and loyalty to the country.
Jairni's remarks were seen as crossing the line, which was perhaps a heavy blow to him. Having played for Juventus, Real Betis, Real Madrid, among others, he is undoubtedly an experienced player and coach. The Football Association also mentioned in the statementA lot of respect for what Giarni has done for the Croatian national team"., but in order to protect the unity of the Croatian football family, they believe that such a decision is necessary.
This incident gave me a lot of inspiration. Everyone has a different role to play in the football family, but whether it's a player, a coach or a fan, we should all remember that loyalty to the team and love for the game is a responsibility that can never be forgotten. Especially as a coach, you should lead by example and pass on positive energy, so that everyone who loves football can find their own place in this big family.
For Giarni, it may be an end, but for Croatian football, it is a profound reflection. In the days to come, I hope that every member of Croatian football will remember the lessons of this incident and not only give wonderful things on the pitch, but also convey the positive value of football off the pitch. Let's stay in love for the future of football, but also not forget loyalty.