April 2 – Former Manchester United star Nemanja Vidic has said that Serbia must seize “the historic opportunity” created by the student protests against the government of Aleksandar Vudic.
In a rare and lengthy interview, Vidic addressed the political situation in Serbia where student-led protests have heightened the pressure on the regime of Vucic after prolonged demonstration expressing their discontent with rampant political corruption.
Speaking to N1, Vidic said: “We will encounter for the first time a situation like this where the younger generations want to live in a better society and demand a better system and values, and the responsibility of certain institutions, and I think that we must not miss this opportunity…
“I want to look at it from the angles of all actors of this society, we have to help this instability that exists in society to be positive for the generations to come and that all actors will recognise the importance of this moment and in the end to fight to create a society where we will be better, and when we are better, then we will be in a situation to create partners in the region and abroad based on the knowledge of the younger generation that is coming, which wants to work on itself and build a new society.”
In 2023, Vidic contemplated a serious run for FA president of Serbia, but two weeks after he announced his candidacy he withdrew, leaving the field to veteran Dragan Dzajic, who is understood to have close links to the government.
Vidic said: “Students showed that they did not use force and when they organised protests they cleaned up after themselves and left order, not disorder. No windows were broken, no problems were created and that is the way we should develop this society. I am not for anarchy, I am not for chasing each other in the streets. I think that institutions must do their job and we must not allow hooded men and certain structures to attack our future.”
On Thursday, Belgrade will host the UEFA Congress. Vucic is expected to address the gathering of European football leaders.
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