Serbia-Albania match abandoned after drone flies banner over the pitch
The Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania was halted during the first half when a drone flew a banner with the Greater Albanian flag on it over the pitch. Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic caused simmering tensions to boil over by pulling down the banner, prompting a scuffle between players from the two sides and causing the match to be halted before it was eventually abandoned.
This attempt to play marked Albania's first visit to Belgrade since 1967. Due to the history of violence between the two nations and ethnically Albanian Kosovo's fight for independence from Serbia, away supporters were not allowed in the stadium, which is perhaps why they felt it necessary to make their presence known via drone.
From the Guardian:
“The supporters of Albania are not allowed to visit the stadium,” explains Milivoj Mirkov, head of security for the Serbian Football Federation. “Uefa banned away supporters from this as well as the rematch that will be played in October 2015 due to security reasons. Every Albanian supporter that tries to attend the match will be arrested and prosecuted.”
The Albanian FA’s request for 2,000 tickets was met with a condition from Serbia that tickets should be sold only to Albanian passport holders. Tirana refused this; such a rule would exclude the huge Albanian diaspora all over Europe, but most importantly, the residents of Kosovo.
According to Serbian state television, the brother of Albanian prime minster Edi Rama was arrested in a VIP box at the stadium under suspicion of masterminding the drone stunt. Here's video of a Serbian fan attacking the Albanian players with a plastic chair, followed by the visitors fleeing for the tunnel as projectiles rained down upon them...
Sadly, the attempt to play this match only exacerbated the deep divisions between these two countries instead of helping to move forward.
(AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
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