By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – Albanian football authorities have hit back powerfully at Serb accusations that they were responsible for the politically-fuelled melee that caused this week’s Euro 2016 qualifier between the Balkan rivals in Belgrade to be abandoned after descending into chaos.
As UEFA decides how to punish both parties for scenes of mayhem that were flashed around the world on terlevision, the Albanian FA said its players were left “emotionally shaken and psychologically distraught” by the extraordinary eruption of pent-up hostility after a flag with a political message was flown into the stadium by a drone.
In an emotive statement that followed a similar rant from the Serbian authorities which blamed the visitors for refusing to play on, the Albanian FA condemned the “racist violence” of the Serbia players and the “vile nature of negative propaganda” by the Serbian media.
“With cuts and bruises and bloody traumas to the head, the Albanian side was understandably emotionally shaken and psychologically distraught, unable to play the beautiful game in such an ugly, ugly situation,” read the statement, written by Albanian FA marketing & PR director Gazmend Malo.
In hyperbolic and impassioned language that could be construed, just like the Serbian statement, as an attempt to offset potential UEFA sanctions, the Albanians continued:
“The Serbian media has gone into high gear trying to put the blame on our beautiful boys, even contorting such ridiculous stories like the one that involves the Prime Minister’s brother as the person controlling the drone.
“Some Serbian media went as far as to declare that Olsi Rama was arrested, which he certainly wasn’t, but the vile nature of negative propaganda thrives on such lies.
“It is disheartening to hear recent statements of the Serbian Football Association, that do not muster the courage to take responsibility for their complete failure at organising a safe international sporting event.
“The Serbian side seems unable to condemn the violence, extremism and racism that was displayed at Belgrade, but rather, they seem too busy weaving political statements that do not serve any purpose but to defend the shameful acts of racist violence and the unsportsmanlike conduct of their players, fans and security staff.”
The statement also defended the use of the drone which bore the Albanian insignia and a map of ‘Greater Albania’. Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic attempted to pull the banner down, sparking clashes between players and fans that led to English referee Martin Atkinson abandoning the game with the score at 0-0 after 41 minutes.
“When the drone flew over the stadium, as the only way to fly national colours in an aggressively hostile environment, the mayhem was more than 40 minutes old,” said the statement. “The Albanian flag was considered a provocation, but that is the only flag we’ve got.”
That may be so but the Albanians seemingly failed to recognise that, with away fans already barred, even the act of flying the flag over the stadium would be considered highly provocative with potentially serious consequences given the deep-rooted political tensions between the two sides, much of it relating to the former Serbian province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 and has a mainly Albanian population.
UEFA’s disciplinary body will hear the case on October 23. Kosovo has been recognised by the United States and many European Union countries, but Serbia refuses to do the same.
The Albanians, however unnecessary the drone was, claim they were in danger from the moment they left for the stadium. “Making our way the Albania side bus was hit with stones thrown by Serbian fans,” their statement continued.
“Before the team warm-up, a part of the Albanian delegation led by the AFA president Mr Armando Duka was hit with a piece of concrete which was received as evidence by the UEFA delegate present.
“Each time the team or a member of the team appeared on the pitch, the atmosphere became extremely hostile and aggressive on the part of Serbia supporters. At the end of warm-up Albanian players were hit by a shower of coins, lighters and other objects thrown at them as they were making their way to the tunnel that takes players inside. For the entire duration of warm-ups before the game, the offensive chants of 30,000 strong repeated ‘Kill the Albanians’ and ‘Death to Albanians’.
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