Hrvatski nogometni savez i Fédération Internationale de Football Association 1941.-1945.
Croatian Football Federation and Fédération Internationale de Football Association 1941-1945

Summary/Abstract: Following the collapse of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia, the Croatian Football Federation sought membership in the FIFA. At the time, both the Independent State of Croatia and the Croatian Football Federation were undergoing institutional consolidation, with the Federation increasingly aligned with the Ustaša regime and presenting itself internationally as an extension of the state, particularly through national team matches. The correspondence between the Federation and FIFA of that time, as well as contemporary press, indicate that the Croatian Football Federation was granted provisional FIFA membership in July 1941, thereby gaining the right to organize official international matches. However, the relations with FIFA until the collapse of the Croatian state in 1945 were marked by persistent administrative and financial difficulties. FIFA documents reveal frequent leadership changes within the HNS, their inadequate knowledge of regulations, and repeated failures to meet reporting obligations, which called for regular intervention by FIFA. Financial irregularities constituted the most serious issue, as the Croatian Football Federation repeatedly failed to pay membership fees and match revenues, often citing obstacles related to banking. After repeated warnings, FIFA issued a final notice in early 1945, before terminating correspondence and re-establishing contacts with the football authorities of the newly reconstituted Yugoslavia.

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