07 January 2025 GMT: 16:19

More Serbian fan violence triggers calls for tougher state action

Partizan vs Red star

By Andrew Warshaw
November 5 – Serbia should follow English football’s lead in tackling hooliganism after yet another Belgrade derby was marred by fan violence, according to a senior government sports official. Nenad Borovcanin made his comments after fans ran riot before and during last weekend’s clash between bitter rivals Red Star and Partizan.

A year ago relations between Serbia and England reached an all-time low following an explosive Euro 2013 under-21 play-off match that resulted in a mass brawl at the final whistle in Krusevac.

But the Serbs appear to recognise that as far as the terraces are concerned, they are way behind in curbing hooliganism.

Fan violence was described in the 1970s and 1980s as the “English disease” and English clubs were banned by UEFA from participating in European competition between 1985 and 1990. But the advent of all-seater stadia, stricter segregation and a change in social attitudes all but eradicated the problem even though rivalries are still fierce.

“The response of the state must be strong like the one Britain made when they removed the fences and replaced them with severe punishment for all offenders,” Borovcanin, Serbia’s secretary of sport, told state television RTS.

“If the authorities are consistent and willing to deal with this problem there is no chance that what we saw on Saturday will happen again, but the government must show that it’s stronger than hooligans.”

Dozens of fans were arrested in the Serbian capital as rival supporters clashed on the outskirts of Belgrade before kickoff, while play was held up for 10 minutes in the second half after Partizan fans lit a massive bonfire in their section.

The fixture has a long history of crowd trouble, with Red Star supporters burning seats in Partizan’s stadium and pelting the Partisan team bus with rocks before another derby last May, when 92 fans were arrested.

At international level, Serbia’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Italy in Genoa was abandoned after just seven minutes in October 2010, when Serbian fans hurled dozens of flares on to the pitch.

UEFA boss Michel Platini has warned Serbia on several occasions to end fan violence but his message does not appear to be reaching fans. UEFA will be watching developments carefully after the latest ugly incident.

“Club and government officials involved in sports must show a true commitment in dealing with the issue and their action must be strong and decisive in order to deter the leaders of die-hard fan sections from carrying on with the incidents,” said Borovcanin. “Slaps on the wrist won’t do because that only encourages the ringleaders, who must be isolated from true fans.”

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