In sport, we often celebrate victories, records, and the passion of the fans. But there’s another side to the game — a quiet yet equally important battle that doesn’t take place on the field, but behind the scenes. This was the focus of the Conference on Safeguarding Integrity in Football, held on April 1st in Zagreb and organised by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS).

The conference brought together a wide range of stakeholders — from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Croatian Olympic Committee, and all top-tier football clubs to representatives of betting companies and experts from various fields. Among the speakers was Bojan Mijatović, who attended as a representative of the European Multisport Club Association (EMCA) and a member of the HAŠK Mladost team.

It’s not just about rules — it’s about people

Bojan delivered a presentation titled “Safeguarding integrity in sport,” based on insights from the Erasmus+ sport project BITEFIX. The topic? How sport can be protected from internal threats — from doping to match-fixing and illegal betting.

But the message wasn’t just about the risks. It was about responsibility.

“At a time when sport is increasingly targeted by manipulation and interests unrelated to its core values, the most important thing is for us — athletes, coaches, clubs, and federations — to remain consistent. If we want to safeguard the integrity of sport, we must first preserve our own integrity,” Mijatović emphasized.

Next steps for croatian sport

The conference also addressed practical next steps — notably the ratification of the Macolin nonvention, which sets the european framework for combating manipulation in sport, and the establishment of a national platform for information exchange. Such a platform would help identify suspicious behaviour patterns and improve coordination among sports organisations, government bodies, and the betting industry.

For HAŠK Mladost, participating in events like this is a continuation of its work on projects that link sport with education and social responsibility. Through initiatives such as BITEFIX and STAY!, and in collaboration with EMCA, the club remains an active player in european efforts to see sport as more than just a game — as a tool for learning, growth, and upholding core values.