Serbia’s politically-charged Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania was abandoned after Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled down a flag carried by a drone – leading to chaos on the field and in the stands of the Partizan Stadium.
UEFA banned Albania fans from attending the Group I clash in Belgrade but elected to allow the two countries to face each other, despite long-standing political tensions.
And when the Albanian flag – accompanied by a map of Kosovo and the message ‘autochthonous’, meaning indigenous – was flown above the pitch using a remote-operated drone, Mitrovic’s actions led to fighting between players and officials and havoc in the stands.
Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo as an independent nation – an issue that is hotly disputed by Albanians who dominate the population of the Serbian province.
English Referee Martin Atkinson interrupted the match in the 41st minute after Mitrovic grabbed the flag and Albania’s players tried to protect it. Several Serbian fans invaded the pitch and clashed with Albanian players.
The Albanian players had to flee the field, followed by Serbia’s XI that included the likes of Premier League stars Branislav Ivanovic, Matija Nastasic, Aleksandar Kolarov, Dusan Tadic and Nemanja Matic.
At first, the home support had cheered the flag, but once it became clear that it was Albanian the mood in the stands turned. Flares were lit, with a NATO flag burnt as supporters clashed with riot police.
Manchester City defender Kolarov was among the players who urged fans to calm down as the Albanian players fled to the tunnel, putting his arm around one opponent to help him away from the pitch.
According to Reuters, Serbian state television reported that Olsi Rama, the brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was arrested in the V.I.P Box for instigating the stunt and was found with a remote.
‘He was arrested on suspicion that he masterminded and executed the incident in which a flag with a map of greater Albania was flown over the pitch and the terraces, after which the match between Serbia and Albania was abandoned,’ Serbian state television said on its official website (www.rts.rs).
Bizarrely, the announcer at the stadium played Cher’s ‘Believe’ in an attempt to calm fans during the break, to no avail. After a delay of around half an hour, Atkinson abandoned the game
