Sport

Hooligans Chase Ivan Rakitić Off Ugljan Island

By 1 July 2016

On Friday afternoon a group of hooligans threw rocks at the villa where Ivan Rakitić and his family resided. After the dramatic event, the famous football player literally ran off the island with his family on a speed boat

Croatian footballer Ivan Rakitić came for his vacation two days ago to Ugljan island. The Barcelona player rented the luxurious Villa Marija for his family, nested in the Čeprljanda bay. Residents of Ugljan welcomed the arrival of one of the best Croatian footballers, but hooligans didn’t feel so welcoming, as Dnevnik.hr reported on July 1, 2016.

On Friday, around 13h, a group of six men arrived on the island and headed for the villa. Upon their arrival they threw rocks at the house and smashed doors and windows. Rakitić and his family were inside at the time. After smashing what they could they ran off in an unknown direction.

The reasonably panicked Rakitić reacted right away and left the island in half an hour via a speed boat. Locals who talked to Dnevnik.hr about this shameful incident say the situation was dramatic as they heard one of the hooligans calling on others to storm the house.

An ugly advert for Croatian tourism, but a nation as a whole. Shameful, but especially an ugly situation for Ivan Rakitić who, of all fashionable world resorts which would welcome him with open arms, chose to spend his holidays in his homeland. Probably the last time after this disgrace.

There is a story update, with a twist in the plot. You can read it here.

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