A chunk of concrete, stones, coins and lighters were hurled at Albania’s players and officials before and during the soccer match against bitter rivals Serbia that was abandoned amid onfield clashes, the Albanian Football Association said Thursday.
Albania assistant coach Altin Lala told a German newspaper that he feared for his life during the alleged attacks.
While both countries blame each other for the violence now being investigated by UEFA, Albanian Football Association president Armando Duka demanded a “complete and independent” inquiry into the events that have further poisoned relations between the countries.
Photo: AFP
An Albania Football Association statement said its team bus had been pelted with stones before the European Championship qualifier, a chunk of concrete was thrown at the delegation and “coins, lighters and other objects” were hurled at players on the pitch.
The game was halted after a drone carried a pro-Albanian flag over the Belgrade stadium on Tuesday, sparking fighting between the two sides.
“I was afraid of dying. I’m generally pretty tough, but I’ve never before seen such hate,” Lala said in an interview with Bild. “Even the security services, who are supposed to look after maintaining order, were hitting [us]. In the tunnel between the changing rooms and the pitch I even saw police hitting our players.”
Serbia minister of foreign affairs called the flag stunt a “political provocation” by Albania.
Albania said Serbian supporters and even police and stadium security had ramped up hostilities.
“The facts are clear, the proof is there and we demand above all a complete and independent inquiry into the incidents reported before, during and after the Albania-Serbia football match,” Duka told reporters. “The aggressors must be punished by all institutions, including Serbian justice.”
The Albanian delegation led by Duka “was hit with a piece of concrete” which has been handed to UEFA for its investigation, the statement said.
Throughout the warm-up, the crowd shouted “Kill the Albanians” or “Death to Albanians” and dozens of Serbian fans poured over fences onto the pitch, it said.
The Serbia Football Federation has said the drone stunt was “political sabotage” and that Albania refused appeals by the UEFA delegate to carry on playing.
The federation said fans who invaded the field had sought to retrieve the flag showing a greater Albania.
UEFA has opened a formal probe against the Serbian federation over the crowd disturbances, while the Albanian association faces charges of refusing to play and displaying an illicit banner. The case is to be heard on Thursday next week.
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