getty, Shaun Botterill

A group of hooligans, believed to be Hajduk Split fans, attacked Croatian football federation officials including coach Niko Kovac on Monday.

No-one was injured but police later said they had detained 12 people over the incident, which took place at a rest-stop on the motorway between Split and Zagreb.

"Some 10 hooligans with Hajduk insignia attacked a Croatian Football Federation (HNS) delegation first verbally and then physically," an HNS statement said.

The statement, which revealed a federation vehicle had been damaged during the fracas, praised the officials for their calm reaction to the trouble-makers.

The seven-member delegation was travelling to Split to discuss organisation of June's Euro 2016 qualifier there against Italy.

Monday's incident comes amid a backdrop of tense relations between HNS and Hajduk.

The club's officials have accused the national league of treating them unfairly and called for the resignation of the HNS leadership, including president Davor Suker.

In November, Hajduk refused to turn out for a match against champions Dinamo Zagreb, after some of their 'ultras' fans were refused entry into the stadium in the Croatian capital.

A HNS disciplinary commission awarded the match 3-0 to Dinamo Zagreb, a decision which resulted in 15,000 people joining anti-HNS protests in Split.

For years the HNS had refused to organise national team matches in Split, but had recently decided to host European qualifiers against Italy and Bulgaria in the second-largest town in Croatia.

However, just two days later UEFA ruled that the match against Italy would be played behind closed doors due to racism and other incidents during Croatia's last match against Norway.

The HNS said it would appeal against the decision but local media speculated that Split was only chosen as the venue because UEFA's ruling was already known.

HNS denies the accusations.

Croatia's fans have a reputation for troublesome behaviour and the HNS have been punished many times in the past.

The federation had urged the government to act and put an end to hooliganism.