The match between Croatia and Albania at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg has sparked tensions between Serbia and the participating teams. During the game, fans were heard chanting about the killing of Serbians, which has led Serbia to threaten withdrawing from Euro 2024. The general secretary of the Football Association of Serbia, Jovan Surbatovic, has called for strong sanctions to be taken against the teams involved in the chanting.
Serbia has expressed disappointment in the behavior of fans from both Croatia and Albania, as well as their own previous fines for incidents during matches. Surbatovic emphasized that Serbian fans have acted better than others and urged them to remain gentlemen. Despite the tensions, Serbia continues to participate in the tournament, with their next match against Slovenia on Thursday. The situation remains unresolved as football governing bodies and countries involved consider their next steps.
The incident involving a Kosovar journalist who made a nationalist gesture towards Serbia fans during a previous match is also adding fuel to the fire. Uefa canceled his credentials after he mimicked Albania’s national eagle on its flag, an action that has historical tensions between ethnic Albanians and Serbian nationalists. This latest development is causing further strain on relations between Serbia and other participating teams in Euro 2024.
As a journalist rewriting this article, I will add more details about Uefa’s decision to cancel the credentials of the Kosovar journalist, highlighting how it relates to earlier incidents involving nationalist gestures towards other fan bases. I will also include quotes from Jovan Surbatovic emphasizing how disappointed he is with both Croatian and Albanian fans for engaging in such behavior.
Overall, this article aims to provide readers with a clear understanding of how tensions have escalated between Serbia and other participating teams in Euro 2024 due to recent incidents involving nationalist gestures by fans. It will also shed light on how these incidents are impacting Uefa’s efforts to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during this international competition.
In summary:
Serbia is threatening to withdraw from Euro 2024 after hearing chants about killing Serbians during a match against Albania at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. Fans were heard chanting about past conflicts between ethnic groups in Europe.
Uefa canceled credentials of a Kosovar journalist who made a nationalist gesture towards Serbian fans during a previous match at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Serbia’s general secretary of Football Association Jovan Surbatovic stated that they will ask for strong sanctions against all teams involved if it means not continuing competition.
The incident highlights how past conflicts continue to affect European football competitions even today.