Former International Referee Tihomir Pein Attacked Near Osijek Stadium in Croatia

Tihomir Pein, a former international football referee and current VAR official, was assaulted on the street near the old stadium in Osijek, Croatia. The incident occurred while Pein was out for a morning run when two masked individuals stopped him and attacked. Local residents witnessed the assault and attempted to intervene, but the attackers managed to flee the scene. Paramedics treated Pein at the location. Pein expressed confusion about the motive behind the attack, stating, "I have no idea why they attacked me, I don't know who they are, I hope they get caught."

Pein has a notable refereeing history, having officiated international matches including European qualifiers involving Israeli teams. He refereed a UEFA Europa League qualifier match for Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the 2019/20 season and a similar match for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2017/18 season. Additionally, he officiated the Israel U-17 national team during the 2018 European Championship. The attack has caused a stir in Croatia and among the football community familiar with Pein's career.