UEFA open proceedings against Serbia and Albania for their abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier... but Serbian FA say incident was a 'planned terrorist attack' on their country

  • Serbia's Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania was abandoned on Tuesday
  • A drone carrying the Albanian flag was flow over the pitch in the first half
  • Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled down the flag resulting in fighting
  • Serbian FA believe the drone was part of a 'planned terrorist attack'
  • UEFA are now investigating the ugly scenes that happened in Belgrade and the disciplinary body hears the case on October 23
  • Heavy fines likely and other sanctions including possible points deductions 

Serbia and Albania can expect severe punishments after UEFA launched an investigation into a night of unprecedented violence in Belgrade, described as ‘inexcusable’ by Michel Platini.


Recriminations continued on Wednesday after the Euro 2016 qualifier between the fierce Balkan rivals descended into violence and chaos involving players, fans and staff when a drone carrying a flag bearing a politically-charged message was flown into Belgrade’s Partizan Stadium.

  • Albania players told how they feared for their safety as hooligans invaded the pitch and threw missiles as they ran to the tunnel for cover.
  • Serbia accused the perpetrators behind the flag of committing ‘a terrorist act’ - although there is scant evidence to support such an incendiary claim.
  • The brother of Albania’s prime minister was forced to deny he was steering the drone from his VIP box.
  • Serbia claimed they should be awarded a 3-0 victory by UEFA despite loudly jeering the Albanian anthem.

English referee Martin Atkinson was at the centre of the storm, forced to abandon the tie as Albania’s players refused to continue once they had taken refuge in the dressing room.

The Serbian FA have released a statement about their abandoned match against Albania on Tuesday

The Serbian FA have released a statement about their abandoned match against Albania on Tuesday

Serbia player Stefan Mitrovic leaps to grab the flag and pull it and the drone to the ground - sparking the chaos
Mitrovic tugs at the strings holding the flag, now grounded

Serbia player Stefan Mitrovic leaps to grab the flag and pull it and the drone to the ground - sparking the chaos

The drone struggles to fly as players and substitutes from both sides get involved in a scuffle

The drone struggles to fly as players and substitutes from both sides get involved in a scuffle

Southampton's Dusan Tadic is at the centre of a scuffle along with Man City's Aleksandar Kolarov (2nd left)

Southampton's Dusan Tadic is at the centre of a scuffle along with Man City's Aleksandar Kolarov (2nd left)

£50 DRONE THAT STARTED A RIOT 

An unmanned aerial vehicle piloted by remote control, it is used primarily by the military for surveillance and checking for bombs and landmines.

How do they work?

They are used mainly in situations where manned flight is too dangerous or difficult, and can therefore be controlled from long distances — smaller drones, such as the type spotted during the Serbia v Albania match, commonly have a range of around 1km.

Can anyone just buy one?

Yes, very easily. It is legal to fly drones weighing less than 20kg in most British airspaces, and they can be purchased for as little as £50 from various websites.

The mass brawl was sparked with the score at 0-0 in the 40th minute when Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic dragged down the flag, which displayed a map of so-called ‘Greater Albania’ — including Kosovo — and the word ‘autochthonous’, meaning indigenous.

Mitrovic was grabbed by two Albanians and the flag was taken by Albania striker Bekim Balaj, who was attacked with a chair by a Serbian fan.

Albania captain Lorik Cana, once of Sunderland, wrestled the thug to the floor before more pitch invaders forced the visiting team to dash down the tunnel, fending off kicks and missiles as they did so. 

Cana, now at Lazio, said he suffered injuries to his face in the melee, adding: ‘We came to play football, but we were physically attacked by Serbian fans and therefore did not want to return to the field.’ 

Albanian players try to take cover as they flee to the tunnel - a chair and a bottle (ringed) were thrown at them

Albanian players try to take cover as they flee to the tunnel - a chair and a bottle (ringed) were thrown at them

The Albanian players pile into the tunnel to escape the hail of missiles

The Albanian players pile into the tunnel to escape the hail of missiles

Riot police try to contain the home fans after fighting broke out (it is not known if the fans in this picture were involved in the disorder)

Riot police try to contain the home fans after fighting broke out (it is not known if the fans in this picture were involved in the disorder)

Riot police attempt to contain fans in the stands of the Partizan Stadium. The match was eventually abandoned 

Riot police attempt to contain fans in the stands of the Partizan Stadium. The match was eventually abandoned 

Some spectators tried to storm the police lines as the disorder continued in the stands

Some spectators tried to storm the police lines as the disorder continued in the stands

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic sidesteps a challenge from Ansi Agolli before the shameful scenes in the ground
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic walks from the pitch with his head bowed on a disgraceful night

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic sidesteps a challenge before his club-mate Brainslav Ivanovic later walked off

KOSOVO AT THE ROOT OF IT 

Albania fans were banned from the match due to the turbulent history between the Balkan nations.

This is mainly because of Kosovo, recognised as an independent state since 2008 by 108 countries including the US and UK but not Serbia, which still considers the territory its own province.

Kosovo is dominated by ethnic Albanians and seven members of the national squad were born there.

In 1999, NATO intervened with air strikes to halt Serbian forces who had killed more than 10,000 ethnic Albanians and displaced around one million more during the Yugoslav Wars.

Kosovo does not belong to the UN, FIFA or UEFA but this year has been allowed to play official friendlies.

Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, Serbia’s captain, said: ‘All I can say is that we wanted to carry on and that we shielded the Albanian players every step of the way to the tunnel. The Albanian team said they were unfit physically and mentally to carry on after talking to the officials and they will now decide the fate of this match.’

UEFA formally opened disciplinary proceedings on Wednesday night. Serbia will be investigated on five counts, including setting off fireworks, crowd disturbance and poor organisation.

Albania are accused of breaching two rules: refusing to play and the display of an illicit banner.

UEFA president Platini said he was ‘deeply saddened,’ adding: ‘The scenes in Belgrade were inexcusable.’

In a statement, the Serbian FA ‘strongly stressed’ that ‘at all times safety was guaranteed to every member’ of Albania’s team — then accused Olsi Rama, brother of Albanian prime minister Edi, of flying the drone from the stands.

They insisted they should be awarded a 3-0 victory because their visitors were ‘directly guilty for the match abandonment’, adding: ‘Serbia are aghast by the provocation and are afraid this is a scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance.’

Serbian media reported Olsi Rama had been arrested with controls in his hands but he denied the claims, saying: ‘I’ve never used a drone in my life... only bought my son a toy helicopter.’

A 3,000-strong crowd cheered the Albania team’s return in Tirana. Their prime minister tweeted: ‘Proud of the black and red team. Regret for our neighbours who presented themselves badly with their ugly show.’

Fans clashed with police as havoc took hold (it is not known whether the fans shown in this picture were involved in the disorder)

Fans clashed with police as havoc took hold (it is not known whether the fans shown in this picture were involved in the disorder)

Serbian supporters wave their flags on what was a heated night in Belgrade

Serbian supporters wave their flags on what was a heated night in Belgrade

The incident prompted hundreds of Albanian fans to spill out onto the streets of their capital Tirana

The incident prompted hundreds of Albanian fans to spill out onto the streets of their capital Tirana

 

READ FULL STATEMENT FROM SERBIAN FA OVER ABANDONED MATCH

After last night's UEFA EURO 2016 Group I qualifier between Serbia and Albania (0:0, 41st minute, FK Partizan Stadium, Belgrade) abandonment, Football Association of Serbia is issuing the following press release. 

Football Association of Serbia is expressing regret that the match between Serbia and Albania did not finish in a sports manner, as a very important event of two countries' best teams should have.

In atmosphere that has not been seen for a long time in Serbia, with support of fans acting like one, Serbian National team players, with their good game, were heading towards an important victory on their way to France 2016. Unfortunately, because of a provocation from the opponent's side, started by entering a flag of non-existing so-called "Great Albania" that as such offends feelings of all citizens of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece, with help of a drone that came from outside of the stadium, and that was continued by inappropriate scenes on the pitch, the match was not finished in the usual way and therefore our national team players lost chance to show who was better and of more quality in a fair, sportsmanlike and chivalrous contest.

At this moment we do not want to deal with presumptions about the final solution. We do emphasise that while preparing this match we were in constant touch with all appropriate and relevant state authorities.

However, we would like to inform domestic and foreign public about certain undisputable facts regarding last night's match between Serbia and Albania:

1. Match suspension was in the 41st minute, upon appearance of the mentioned flag that came from outside of the stadium, carried by a drone and as such found itself in the space foreseen for the game. Appearance of the object is a well-planned political diversion. It will turn out that it was the only and key reason for definite abandonment of the match that came later on. Referee Martin Atkinson stopped the match, expecting for the object to be removed. The act that the referee stopped the match was a clear sign that it had to be removed immediately. At one moment, Serbian player Stefan Mitrović managed to catch the flag and, as it can be clearly seen on all the footages, started to fold it as calmly as possible, in order to give it to the fourth official and for the match to be continued. Absolutely all of the Serbian players and officials on the bench were in their seats, calm and without any attempt to show force or rage because of the incident. However, Albanian players acted very aggressively and physically attacked Mitrović.

2. By this way FA of Serbia would like to thank to enormous number of supporters present at the stadium, who remained in their seats and behaving as they did, contributed for the mentioned nationally and politically based provocation not to end with tragic consequences. Unfortunately, individuals who entered the pitch succumbed to the provocation and wanted only one thing - to remove the mentioned flag. Regardless understanding we have, we must not tolerate such an act and FA of Serbia will press charges against them, all in accordance with the law, legal regulations and obligations, and after reviewing footage of security cameras. Furthermore, the same procedure will be started against a person who broke into the Radio Television Serbia studio and sent offensive messages to the Prime Minister of Republic of Serbia.

3. What came next were moments of acting in crisis circumstances. Forming a group of appropriate officials and being familiar with all steps and rules, members of the FA of Serbia took part in UEFA meetings in the best possible way. We declare under full responsibility that the match referee and the match delegate made a decision for the match to be continued. FA of Serbia and our representatives accepted that, but unfortunately not the people from the Albanian FF and their national team.

4. Wanting only football game to be the winner, we proposed the following options foreseen by the relevant regulations to the delegate, referees and Albanian FF:

- For the match to be continued according to the decision of the referee and delegate - Albanian FF refused that

- For the match to be continued after emptying the stands - Albanian FF refused that

- For the match to be postponed and played on Wednesday, 15th October 2014 - Albanian FF refused that

For every of the proposed options FA of Serbia had full support of all relevant authorities - match referees, match delegate and other match officials.

Proposals had also been refused by the highest officials of the Albanian FF and also by their team captain Cana who was present on behalf of their national team.

Further to all the above, referee Atkinson told our captain Branislav Ivanovic to take the team to the pitch and therefore show decisiveness of Serbia to play, which was done accordingly.

After few consultations with his teammates, Albanian team captain Cana officially confirmed that Albania did not want to continue with the match, out of reason that some of the players were mentally unfit at that moment.

Referee Atkinson informed the present people that there were four remaining minutes of the game in the first half and up till then already defined two minutes of additional time.

5. FA of Serbia emphasise that before and during the played part of the match, and also after the match was abandoned neither any of the Albanian flags had been burnt nor there had been any banners with inappropriate content. Furthermore, we strongly stress the fact that at all times safety was guaranteed to every member of the Albanian FF delegation.

Events that happened during the match and that resulted in the match to be abandoned have shown us one incredible synchronisation of the whole event that had only one aim - to cause abandonment of the match in Belgrade! And let us immediately stress that Football Association of Serbia has never evaded responsibility, that is not our intention now, but for the truth and justice we will not and do not want to allow the perpetrators who violated football to present themselves as victims.

It is a scandalous fact that the other party, with their "job well done" is ridiculing not only FA of Serbia and Serbian people but also, we dare to say, UEFA. Starting with the person detained for questioning who operated the drone with the flag of "Great Albania", the flag that offends not only Serbian citizens, but also people of Greece, Montenegro and FYR Macedonia, to those who now boast they had brought that drone to Belgrade and display photos on social networks. It is devastating and also easily seen through that even the Albanian Prime Minister himself spoke, he, whose brother allegedly was directly responsible for taking the drone into the stadium! Now we ask: how the world, many politicians, EU and UEFA representatives would react if such a crazy, shameless scenario was to happen in Albania and directed by our "officials"? Also, do not forget organised festivities in the countries of the region after the last night's match was abandoned, when the mentioned flag and abandoned match were celebrated. Those events are in favour of the idea of the FA of Serbia for both matches between Serbia and Albania to be played without guest supporters.

Because of all that, FA of Serbia strongly condemn scenes of violence at the FK Partizan stadium, but also football being shamefully politicized, what is contrary to all UEFA and FIFA regulations and what is the main reason of the match being abandoned. Football Association of Serbia also request from UEFA disciplinary bodies to react as in the Genoa case and act according to the same criteria.

We welcomed our guests from the Albanian FF in the best possible way. Because of that, we are truly worried by the fact that, after decision of the match officials (delegate and referee) for the match to be continued, they did not do anything for that to happen. They simply took UEFA rules in their own hands interpreting them as they preferred. According to that, we estimate that they are directly guilty for the match abandonment and we expect that UEFA disciplinary bodies will register the match with 3:0 result, in favour of Serbia.

At the same time, we warn UEFA that, sadly, something like this can also happen on other stadiums all around Europe and future safety measures should also foresee this new "Albanian way" of acting against football and all parties involved.

Summarizing all, FA of Serbia are aghast by the seen provocation and are afraid that this is scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance, above all directed against interests of our country, Republic of Serbia.