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Serbian Federation thanks Duka, and complains about fans: Our players were threatened

Politiko 2025-06-09 11:24:32

Serbian Federation thanks Duka, and complains about fans: Our players were

After the draw at the "National Arena", for the third match of Group K of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, the Serbian Football Federation appears to have begun a campaign of public victimization, making accusations against the fans in the stadium.

Full statement from the Serbian Football Federation:

In the face of the ugly truth that our players faced on the field, we would like to emphasize the fact that the entire expedition of the Football Federation of Serbia, from the first to the last minute of their stay in the Albanian capital, was received exceptionally well by the Football Federation of Albania and its president, Armand Duka. From the reception at the airport to the departure from Tirana, you showed us respect.

Unfortunately, scenes from the stands that the football world would not want to see, scenes that UEFA has been fighting for years through its bodies and regulations, have cast a huge stain on the behavior of fans. The Football Association of Serbia strongly condemns political outbursts of hatred through various forms of provocations and calls for terrorist organizations.

When words weren't enough, our football players were also physically threatened. Coins, glasses and bottles flew from the stands, the Italian referee stopped the match on several occasions and the official announcer also made his announcement, all to no avail.

This situation began with whistles and continued with cheers that not only violate the spirit of sportsmanship and the atmosphere of the game, but also directly threaten the principles of international respect and tolerance that football is supposed to promote.

Thanking the Football Federation of Albania for the warm hospitality during our stay in Tirana, we condemn everything that could be heard and seen from the stands of the National Stadium.

Finally, we would like to address the texts that give a negative context to the statements from coach Dragan Stojković's press conference, which contradict what was said.

"As the coach of the Serbian national team, my focus during the match was exclusively on the field, on the players, tactics and the result. I appreciated the atmosphere in the stadium in the context of the sporting atmosphere, full stands and support for the national team, which is always welcome for football as a game."

However, it is normal that at that moment I did not fully register all the scandalous and offensive messages that came from the stands, which were later recorded and commented on in the media. I want to clearly and unequivocally condemn any chants that insult the Serbian people and the Serbian national team, or anyone else. Such phenomena have no place on sports fields.

It is absurd for someone to accuse Dragan Stojkovic of “supporting extremists” and “praising hatred towards our people.” I have proven my patriotism and sense of belonging to my people many times, both during my career as a player and as a coach, said the coach of our national team.