Cikalleshi says Albania players feared for their lives in Serbia
Albania forward Sokol Cikalleshi says he and his team-mates feared for their lives during Tuesday's mass brawl in the match against Serbia.
The two sides were playing a Euro 2016 qualifier in Belgrade on Tuesday when visiting fans, who were banned from attending the match, flew a drone over the stadium showing the Greater Albania flag.
Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled the flag down, sparking outrage amongst the Albanian players, and the match had to be abandoned when home supporters rushed onto the pitch to attack the visitors.
"It was bad, we feared for our lives," Cikalleshi, who plays for Croatian side RNK Split, told Goal.
"In the beginning, we didn't want Serbian players to rip apart our flag which flew over the pitch. That's how it all started.
"We didn't feel safe. We didn't feel safe until we reached the tunnel and the locker room. Four Albanian players were injured in a brawl and we didn't want to continue the match after that.
"There were plans to keep on playing, but we didn't want to. Like all players on the bench, I ran onto the pitch but I wasn't punched, nor did I punch anyone.
"Right after the match, we were escorted to the airport by the police and flew to Tirana."
Cikalleshi also commended Serbia's stars for protecting his team-mates when violence broke out, singling out Branislav Ivanovic for special praise.
"Serbian players wanted to protect us as the fans entered the pitch. Branislav Ivanovic was there in particular to calm it down.
"Even before the match, regarding everything that was surrounding it, he came up to us and said: 'Hey guys, it's only a football match'.
Albania players watcjh as Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag displaying Albanian national symbols.
"But Mitrovic, who grabbed the Albania flag, surprised us all with that."
After the abandoned match Ivanovic told reporters: "We can only regret that football took a back seat.
"On behalf of my team, all I can say is that we wanted to carry on and that we shielded the Albanian players every step of the way to the tunnel [after the riot broke out]."
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