Decades of animosity between Serbs and Albanians erupted at a football stadium in Belgrade on Tuesday, forcing the abandoning of their 2016 Euro qualifier. Both sides played a part in the incident and now point at the other for blame.
With the political context of Serbian-Albanian animosity set aside, it was the latest in a long series of incidents, including some that were fatal, involving Serbian hooligan fans. Tension on the pitch and in the stands exploded in the 42nd minute, when a drone carrying a banner proclaiming greater Albanian aspirations appeared above the pitch.
Initially players scuffled over the banner, but then spectators broke onto the pitch, leading to the interruption. It was Serbia’s second major match in four years to be abandoned because of spectator violence, commonly referred to as hooliganism.
On October 12, 2010, Serbian fans in Genoa disrupted a Euro 2012 qualifier, which was later awarded 3-0 to Italy by default. The ringleader in Genoa, Ivan Bogdanov, was sentenced to 39 months in prison in Italy before being expelled to serve his time in Serbia. The same man was tried for riots at a basketball match in 2006, when hooligans battled police in the Belgrade Pionir Arena.
On Tuesday in Belgrade, Bogdanov was again in the melee, seen on the pitch threatening the Albanians.
On October 14, 2012, Croatian fans travelling to Novi Sad in Serbia to watch a European championship match of their team with France, were ambushed on a highway while returning. At least one man was stabbed, others were beaten and several vehicles were torched.
Sports-related violence is nothing new in Serbia; it has happened many times before. World football governing body FIFA punished Serbia for racial incidents, fan attacks on players and brawling at a home Under-21 World Cup qualifier against England on October 12, 2012.
Earlier this month, UEFA fined Partizan Belgrade for a racial incident at a Europa League match against Tottenham. On September 17, 2009, Partizan supporters attacked a Toulouse fan, Brice Taton, as he was having coffee with friends in Belgrade ahead of a Europa League match. Taton succumbed to consequences of the brutal beating 12 days later, dying at age 28.
Despite formal pledges and the possibilities offered by a special, Draconian law against hooliganism, Serbian authorities have never attempted a serious crackdown on sport-related violence.
In 2012, then Serbian president Boris Tadic announced a campaign against sport-related hooliganism. A similar promise was made by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic a year ago, when he was deputy premier and interior minister. It now seems they were just doing lip service.