Midway through the first half, Dinamo's travelling supporters, the Bad Blue Boys, unveiled an enormous choreographed display dedicated to the Croatian defenders of Zadar and the wider Dalmatian region during the 1991 Homeland War, including those who fought to defend the country's southern coastline as far as Dubrovnik.
The display stretched across almost the entire away section. And what followed was a scene rarely witnessed in Croatian football.
A Powerful Tribute to the Defenders of Dalmatia
The enormous banner was rich in historical symbolism. On the left, a black-and-white illustration depicted an armoured vehicle carrying Croatian defenders alongside the national flag. On the right, the Croatian red, white and blue tricolour featured the emblem of the Croatian National Guard, together with the names Zadar and Dubrovnik.
The artwork also portrayed the defeat of symbols associated with the forces that attacked Croatia in 1991, including the Yugoslav communist red star and the Serbian Chetnik cockade. The tribute commemorated those who defended Croatian towns and communities during the country's struggle for independence.
Special recognition was also given to the celebrated Pauci (Spiders), the nickname of the Croatian Army's 4th Guards Brigade, a unit closely associated with Split and Dalmatia and remembered for its role in the Homeland War. But the visual display was only the beginning.
Then Came the Song That Changed the Atmosphere
As the banner filled the away section, the Bad Blue Boys began singing Moja domovina — My Homeland — one of Croatia's most recognisable patriotic songs and a powerful symbol of the country's wartime struggle for independence.
What happened next captured the attention of the stadium. Hajduk supporters seated in the western and eastern stands began applauding. These were not supporters of Dinamo Zagreb. They were fans of Hajduk Split, the club's greatest rival, watching from a stadium where visiting Dinamo supporters are traditionally met with fierce hostility.
Yet this time, the response was different. The applause was not for Dinamo's footballers, the club's achievements or its supporters as rivals. It was an acknowledgment of the historical significance of the tribute. For a brief moment, the longstanding divide between Zagreb and Split gave way to respect for a shared national history.
When History Becomes Bigger Than Football
To understand why this moment mattered, it is important to recognise what Hajduk and Dinamo represent. Their rivalry extends far beyond the football pitch. It is deeply rooted in regional pride, local identity, history and generations of passionate support. Hajduk's Torcida and Dinamo's Bad Blue Boys are two of Croatia's most prominent organised supporter groups, renowned for their passionate displays and intense rivalry.
In ordinary circumstances, applause from Hajduk supporters for a Bad Blue Boys display would be almost unthinkable. But this was no ordinary display. The tribute recalled the defence of Croatian territory during the Homeland War, a chapter of history that carries profound significance across the country.
The Croatian National Guard, established in the spring of 1991, played a foundational role in the creation of Croatia's modern armed forces. Its members and the military formations that followed participated in the defence of numerous Croatian communities during the war.
By honouring those who fought in Dalmatia, Dinamo's supporters were paying tribute to a history extending far beyond their own city. And Hajduk supporters recognised it. You can spend ninety minutes standing against your fiercest rivals and still find a moment to stand together in respect for history.
A Reminder That Even the Fiercest Rivalries Have Their Limits
The applause at Poljud did not erase decades of football rivalry. It did not turn the Bad Blue Boys and Torcida into friends, nor did it mean that the next meeting between Hajduk and Dinamo would be any less passionate. But it demonstrated something significant about football supporter culture. The same terraces that produce fierce competition, provocative chants and uncompromising loyalty can also become places of remembrance and collective respect.
And perhaps that is what made this particular moment so striking. Dinamo's supporters chose to commemorate the defenders of Dalmatia in the home stadium of their greatest rivals. Hajduk supporters, in turn, acknowledged the gesture. For once, the most memorable moment of the derby had nothing to do with who was winning.
The Applause That Said More Than a Thousand Chants
Football is built on rivalry. It thrives on emotion, identity and the desire to defeat the opposition. But some moments remind us that even the deepest sporting divisions do not have to define every interaction between supporters. At Poljud, an enormous banner commemorating Croatia's wartime defenders brought an unexpected response from the home crowd.
The Bad Blue Boys sang Moja domovina. Hajduk fans applauded. And for a few extraordinary moments, the country's most intense football rivalry made room for a shared act of remembrance.
The biggest surprise was not that Dinamo's ultras honoured the defenders of Dalmatia. It was that, in the heart of Hajduk territory, their fiercest rivals recognised the tribute with applause.
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