The Ban of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia, Ivan Skerlecz, ordered the suspension of all sporting events and banned the operation of sports clubs due to wartime developments. On the eve of the First World War, then called the Great War, all sporting activity in Croatia ceased and the work of the Croatian Sports Association was simultaneously suspended. This naturally meant the interruption of the football championship as well. After the outbreak of war, sportsmen in Zagreb organized matches in November of the same year for the benefit of the Red Cross, following the example of Vienna and Budapest.