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Three arrested in Red Star Belgrade fan violence probe

Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade defended the club's three arrested officials shortly after they were apprehended on Friday over a riot at a league match in which a policeman was seriously injured.

The club's secretary general Zoran Damjanovic, stadium manager Miodrag Corovic and security chief Novica Mijuskovic were arrested with match delegate Rade Popovic and all four have been charged with "causing a state of general danger."

"The club states that its officials have done everything in their power under the law on preventing violence at sports events," the club said on its Web site. "Security at stadiums cannot be the sole responsibility of football clubs and Thursday's UEFA Cup match between Red Star and Bolton is a good example how it works when all competent institutions act accordingly."

"Red Star is grateful to police and other state authorities for their assistance in organizing the match and to the fans for their exemplary behavior," the club said.

Neither the club nor police commented on reports that police held up a group of Bolton Wanderers fans in a Belgrade hotel as part of a security operation aimed at preventing crowd trouble.

Bolton won the match 1-0 to stay on course for a berth in the knockout stage of the competition while the outcome ended Red Star's bid to reach the last 32.

Police launched a comprehensive probe into Red Star's activities after last Sunday's incident, when fans battered a police officer with burning flares and seats. One of those arrested in the aftermath has now been charged with attempted murder.

A state TV report said Damjanovic was arrested for having alleged links to the fans who took part in the attack. He allegedly helped fans bring the flares into the stadium that were used in the attack.

The pro-government Politika daily has claimed the riots were inspired by Damjanovic and the club's former president Dragan Stojkovic in order to sidetrack a police investigation into their alleged links with organized crime and murky deals in the sale of at least 15 Red Star players to foreign teams.

The probe includes a scrutiny of player transfers and other financial dealings and the Serbian interior ministry said earlier on Friday it would continue.

"[The four officials] have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into Red Star's activities and the investigation will continue," police chief inspector Andrija Sreckovic said.

In an earlier statement, Red Star expressed "full and unreserved support" to the authorities.
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