By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – In one of the most scrutinised judgments handed down in recent years, UEFA have effectively punished both parties for the politically-fuelled mayhem that caused last week’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Balkan rivals Serbia and Albania to be abandoned while goalless on 41 minutes after descending into chaos.
Amid accusation and counter-accusation fuelled by extraordinary scenes of pent-up hostility in Belgrade, UEFA have awarded Serbia a 3-0 victory as per the rules but, in a rare compromise given the sensitivity of the incident, also deducted the three points and ordered the Serbs to play their next two games behind closed doors.
The match was halted by English referee Martin Atkinson on security grounds after a drone bearing a flag provocatively proclaiming ‘Greater Albania’ including Greece, Macedonia and Serbia flew over the pitch. A Serbian player pulled the banner down, while Albanian players tried to protect it prompting a mass brawl.
UEFA’s disciplinary committee clearly took the view that Albania had no right to walk off and stop playing in a clear breach of the regulations but that Serbia – whose fans perpetually cause trouble – were responsible as the home team and therefore had to forfeit the points.
Both federations have been fined €100,000.
It was the first match between the pair in the Serbian capital since 1967 after controversially being placed in the same group despite the mainly ethnic Albanian province of Kosovo declaring independence in 2008, which Serbia has never recognised.
The Serbs claimed the incident had been a pre-planned equivalent of “a terrorist action” but the Albania FA hit back saying the team were targeted even before the game when home fans stoned their bus.
With away fans barred as a security measure, the Albanian anthem was loudly jeered while Serbian supporters threw flares and other objects at opposition players.
The Albanian federation, which said its players were left “emotionally shaken and psychologically distraught” and condemned the “racist violence”, say they will appeal UEFA’s verdict.
At the end of the warm-up Albanian players were hit by a shower of coins, lighters and other objects as they were making their way to the tunnel. For the entire duration of the warm-up itself, chants among the 30,000 strong crowd included ‘Kill the Albanians’ and ‘Death to Albanians’.
Albanian Football Federation President Armand Duka said: “I am disillusioned because we were claiming a legal verdict from UEFA. I do not understand what precedent this may set when a squad physically beats the opposing players on the pitch. I do not know if there is a greater scandal than this.”
Albania coach Giovanni de Biaisi added: “They took away from us what we deserved on the pitch. What should happen now?”
UEFA may have tried to draw a line under the incident but much attention will now focus on October next year when the two countries meet again in Albania.
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