Serbia says UEFA should award THEM 3-0 win after match against 'terrorist' Albania abandoned after drone used to fly flag over the pitch leads to violent scenes (and arrest of PM's brother)
- UEFA banned away fans from attending the Serbia vs Albania clash at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade
- There are long-running political tensions between the two countries over the Kosovo region
- A drone carrying the Albanian flag was flown above the pitch late in the first half
- The flag showed a map of Kosovo and the message 'autochthonous' (indigenous)
- Serbia's Stefan Mitrovic pulled the flag down and was confronted by Albanian players
- Brother of Albanian PM arrested in VIP Box for allegedly instigating stunt
- Police surrounded the field in a four-deep cordon as English referee Martin Atkinson led the players off
- But some fans were able to storm the field, one throwing a chair at Albanian players
- The match was abandoned after half-an-hour delay
- Aleksandar Kolarov helped the opposition from the pitch as fans threw objects at them
- UEFA say they will now investigate the incident
Serbia's FA has reportedly called on UEFA to reward them with a 3-0 victory after their politically-charged Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania in Belgrade was abandoned and said the visitors' response to a flag being flown on to the pitch was a 'scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance'.
The match was called off after home defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled down a flag carried by a drone - leading to chaos on the field and in the stands of the Partizan Stadium and the arrest of the brother of the Albanian Prime Minister.
However, the Serbs say they gave Albania's players three chances to continue with the match but their opponents refused, and this means the hosts should get the win. They also accuse the Albanians of 'ridiculing' UEFA.
VIDEO Scroll down for footage of the drone, Kolarov as peacemaker, the police presence and pictures
Albania forward Bekim Balaj is struck by a chair thrown by a Serbian fan as tensions boiled over during the Euro 2016 qualifying clash
The flag is flown above the pitch by a drone with the message 'autochthonous', meaning indigenous and a map of Kosovo
A chair goes flying as spectators, officials and players brawl on the pitch. The controversial flag can be seen in the middle of the scrap
Balaj takes cover as a fan, who had stormed the pitch despite heavy security, tries to seize the flag as Albanian players protect it
Serbia player Stefan Mitrovic leaps to grab the flag and pull it and the drone to the ground - sparking the chaos
A Serbian FA statement said: 'We estimate that they (the Albania team) are directly guilty for the match abandonment and we expect that UEFA disciplinary bodies will register the match with 3-0 result, in favour of Serbia.
'It is a scandalous fact that the other party, with their "job well done" is ridiculing not only FA of Serbia and Serbian people but also, we dare to say, UEFA.'
The Serbian FA also claimed their their team acted with restraint despite being provoked by the 'offensive' flag and were then attacked when they tried to remove it from the field.
In a 1,500-word statement, the organisation said Albania's reaction to the controversy had been 'scandalous' and suggested it had been a 'scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance'.
The statement said: 'Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic managed to catch the flag and, as it can be clearly seen on all the footages, started to fold it as calmly as possible, in order to give it to the fourth official and for the match to be continued.
'Absolutely all of the Serbian players and officials on the bench were in their seats, calm and without any attempt to show force or rage because of the incident. However, Albanian players acted very aggressively and physically attacked Mitrovic.
'For the truth and justice we will not and do not want to allow the perpetrators who violated football to present themselves as victims.'
Nemanja Gudelj holds the flag while Albania's Balaj and Andi Lila rush forward to try and protect it
The drone struggles to fly as players and substitutes from both sides get involved in a scuffle
Southampton's Dusan Tadic is at the centre of a scuffle along with Man City's Aleksandar Kolarov (2nd left) with the flag in the middle
Chaos erupts as players from both sides fight on the pitch, as a steward tries to remove a fan who is pinned to the ground by Lorik Cana
UEFA banned Albania fans from attending the Group I clash in Belgrade but elected to allow the two countries to face each other, despite long-standing political tensions.
And when the Albanian flag - accompanied by a map of Kosovo and the message 'autochthonous', meaning indigenous - was flown above the pitch using a remote-operated drone, Mitrovic's actions led to fighting between players and officials and havoc in the stands.
Olsi Rama, the brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was arrested in the VIP box for allegedly instigating the stunt, confirmed CNN.
He was arrested on suspicion that he masterminded and executed the incident in which a flag with a map of greater Albania was flown over the pitch and the terraces, after which the match between Serbia and Albania was abandoned,' Serbian state television said on its official website (www.rts.rs).
UEFA have also launched an inquiry into the violence.
Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo as an independent nation - an issue that is hotly disputed by Albanians who dominate the population.
English referee Martin Atkinson interrupted the match in the 41st minute after Mitrovic grabbed the flag and Albania's players tried to protect it. Several Serbian fans invaded the pitch and clashed with Albanian players.
A steward (centre) tries to maintain order as Albanian and Serbian players fight on the pitch
Albania's Burim Kukeli (centre) and a team-mate confront a pitch invader wrapped in the Serbian flag as stewards stand by
A masked Serbian supporter runs off with the drone that carried the controversial flag as players watch on in the background
English referee Martin Atkinson made the decision to take the players off
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2792953/serbia-vs-albania-suspended-martin-atkinson-banned-fans-use-drone-fly-flag-pitch-leading-violet-scenes-belgrade.html#ixzz3GNsKVDwV
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment