FIFA Give Bosnian-Born Defender Clearance to Play for Croatia
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Football’s governing body FIFA have given Bosnia-Herzegovina native Marin Leovac clearance to play for Croatia…
Diplomatic negotiations between the Croatian Football Federation and FIFA on subject of defender Marin Leovac’s status were successfully concluded, with the NK Rijeka defender now eligible for selection for Niko Kovač’s side. The Croatian FA submitted to FIFA written confirmations from both the Austrian and Bosnian-Herzegovinan Football Federations, confirming that Marin Leovac had not appeared for either nation in official youth category matches. FIFA agreed that there is no impediment to him now representing Croatia.
“I am happy that this subject had a happy-end for us and that Marin Leovac is now a candidate for the national team selection. It is up to him to continue with high-level performances in Rijeka, and we will follow him as we follow all the other candidates”, said Croatia head coach Niko Kovač.
Leovac (26) is a native of Jajce (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and began his career in Austria, representing Sportunion Aschbach, USV Oed/Zeillern and Austria Vienna before moving to Rijeka in 2014. He has not been capped yet.
