Former Croatia International Dario Šimić Arrested in Corruption Probe

Croatian authorities arrested former footballer Dario Šimić on Tuesday on suspicion of illegally obtaining a permit for a tourist camp in a protected coastal area.

• Šimić was detained in Zagreb as part of an anti-corruption operation linked to a tourist camp project in Tisno, according to local media and his lawyer.
• Two other individuals were arrested: a former regional tourism official suspected of helping secure permits, and a businessman believed to have acted as an intermediary.
• Local authorities had filed complaints against Šimić in 2024 over alleged illegal construction on a protected coastal site, the Croatian state news agency reported.
• Šimić's lawyer declined to discuss the charges but stated there are no legal grounds for pre-trial detention; police and the anti-corruption prosecutor's office have not confirmed the arrest.