Serbia-Albania match abandoned after drone sparks violent brawl
Match officials abandoned Tuesday's Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania after a drone carrying an Albanian flag entered the stadium late in the first half and sparked a brawl between players and fans.
Tension was always likely to be high as Albania were making their first trip to Belgrade since 1967. The two Balkan rival nations have had turbulent relations - mainly over the former ethnic Albanian-dominated Serbian province of Kosovo that declared independence in 2008. UEFA banned away fans from attending both qualifying fixtures between the two teams due to security reasons.
English referee Martin Atkinson interrupted the match in the 41st minute when the home fans first noticed the drone and began throwing flares onto the pitch. Minutes later, Serbia’s Stefan Mitrovic pulled the flag down to the ground, and Albania players rushed over to try and protect it, sparking the brawl. Several Serbian fans invaded the pitch and clashed with Albanian players. The score was 0-0 at the time.
The match was later abandoned ''due to a disturbance on the pitch'', according European football's ruling body, UEFA.
Albanian fans had been warned against attending the match. The rival Balkan nations have had turbulent relations, mainly over the former ethnic Albanian-dominated Serbian province of Kosovo that declared independence in 2008.
"We wanted to continue the match, but Albanian players said they were not psychologically ready," Serbia captain Branislav Ivanovic said.
Both Serbian and Albanian fans have a long history of violence and racial abuse. In October 2010, the Italy-Serbia European Championship qualifier was disrupted in Genoa by violent Serbia fans. UEFA awarded Italy a 3-0 win.
On Tuesday, the Albanian anthem was loudly jeered by Serbian fans and derogatory chanting was heard throughout the first half. The drone, clearly visible in the lights of the stadium, made a series of passes above the field. The banner displayed an Albanian flag and a map of so-called "Greater Albania," an area that comprises territory within today's Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and northern Greece.
The banner also portrayed two Albanian nationalist leaders -- Ismail Qemali, who declared Albania's independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 and Isa Boletini, an Albanian fighter against the Turks.
Fearing trouble, hundreds of riot police were deployed inside and outside the Partizan stadium in Belgrade. Dozens of Albanian fans, mostly from Kosovo and Montenegro, apparently managed to get inside despite warnings by Serbian security officials that they would be arrested if they carry Albanian symbols.
Before the match, Albanian Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri has sent a letter to his Serbian counterpart expressing concerns for the security of the Albania players, team staff and journalists, and a few fans.
The minister asked for "urgent steps to guarantee the security of all Albanian citizens present in the stadium."
Serbian state television reported that Olsi Rama, the brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was arrested for instigating the flag stunt.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
