Hajduk will play their Conference League match against Belgian side Sint-Truiden before an audience of children rather than behind closed doors. UEFA has granted the Split club permission to admit children to the European fixture at Poljud, thereby mitigating the strict sanction that originally required the stadium to remain empty of spectators.
Initially, Poljud was scheduled to be completely empty on Thursday, 26 November, at 21:00. However, children aged up to 14 will now be allowed to enter the stands, provided they are accompanied by their coaches. The condition is that one adult chaperone must be present for every 15 children. Tickets will not be charged, and Hajduk has sent invitations to numerous clubs to organise transport for their children to Poljud. It is not yet known exactly how many children will attend the stadium.
Hajduk received a heavy fine following their match against Ajax in the first round of the Conference League. The match behind closed doors is only one part of that sanction, and the club still has to pay 96,000 euros. During the encounter with Ajax, the Torcida ultras caused a 12-minute interruption through the use of pyrotechnics.
By closing Poljud against Sint-Truiden, Hajduk will lose significant revenue. On the day of the match against Ajax, the club earned approximately 1.3 million euros. In a similar fashion, the Croatian national team played their penalty match at Rujevica, which was also required to be played entirely without spectators.
Hajduk’s Conference League schedule comprises four matches. The first is scheduled for 5 November at 18:45 against Lincoln Red Imps. Then, on 26 November at 21:00, they face Sint-Truiden, followed by a match against Nordsjælland on 10 December at 21:00, and a fixture against Midtjylland on 17 December at 21:00.
