Thursday, October 16, 2014

Albanian FA claims Serbian police attacked players after abandoned match

• Statement claims president Armando Duka was hit by concrete
• ‘Police went through each player’s personal belongings’
• Lorik Cana: our lives were in danger against Serbia
• Albania and Serbia face Uefa sanctions
Albania
The Albania FA has alleged its players were attacked by Serbian stewards and police in the tunnel after the match was called off. Photograph: Alexa Stankovic/AFP/Getty
The Albanian Football Association has released a detailed statement that alleges its president, Armando Duka, was hit with a piece of concrete and players were attacked by supporters, security personnel and the police after the Euro 2016 qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday.
Uefa has charged both the Serbian and Albanian FAs after the match held at Partizan Stadium was abandoned by the English referee Martin Atkinson following a mass brawl, triggered when a drone carrying the insignia of so-called “Greater Albania” was flown over the field of play.
On Wednesday, the Serbian FA accused their opponents of a “pre-planned terrorist action” and blamed Albania’s players for refusing to re-start the match. However the statement posted on the Albania FA’s website on Thursday morning hit back by describing the chaotic scenes that marred their visit to the Serbian capital.
“Making our way to the stadium the Albania side’s bus was hit with stones thrown by Serbian fans,” it begins. “Before the team warm-up, a part of the Albanian delegation led by the AFA president, Mr Armando Duka, was hit with a piece of concrete which was received as evidence by the Uefa delegate present.
“Each time the team or a member of the team appeared on the pitch, the atmosphere became extremely hostile and aggressive on the part of Serbia supporters. At the end of warm-up Albanian players were hit by a shower of coins, lighters and other objects thrown at them as they were making their way to the tunnel that takes players inside.”
The statement continues: “For the entire duration of warm-ups before the game, the offensive chants of 30,000 strong repeated ‘Kill the Albanians’ and ‘Death to Albanians’. Tens of Serbian supporters went over the lateral fence at the left side and were not apprehended by police for the entire duration of the minutes played.
“Before the national anthems were played the official band played a nationalistic march, that was not part of the program, which created extreme chauvinistic emotions in the stands. The Albanian anthem was terribly booed and whistled over, so much so that it was impossible to hear it in the stands or on television.
“Stones, hard objects, lighters and pyrotechnics were thrown in the pitch, negatively influencing the game atmosphere, as it was made evident by video footage. Three Albanian players that got up to warm-up during the game were hit by hard objects, causing Uefa official to move them further away from the stands.”
There is no mention of the remote-controlled drone that caused Atkinson to halt proceedings in the 42nd minute of the match, although the statement goes on to allege police and stewards were involved in clashes with players once Albania’s captain, Lorik Cana, had led them from the pitch.
“Civilians entered the pitch causing a melee, punching Albania players and hitting them with stools. Furthermore, our players were also hit by stewards and security personnel serving at the game.
“Making their way to the dressing rooms, in the tunnel, Albania players were repeatedly hit by Serbia supporters, security personnel and the police.
“Also, before the Albanian players were allowed to leave the stadium, with orders from Belgrade prosecutor general (according to the police) the entire staff and players of the Albania national side were physically searched. Police went through each member’s and player’s personal belongings.
“The AFA is of the opinion that the above mentioned actions negatively impacted the normal conduct of the match, which was ultimately abandoned.”
Meanwhile, Serbia’s interior minister said on Thursday that Albania was “not mature enough” to join the European Union, stepping up a war of words over the drone stunt.
Nebojsa Stefanovic’s remarks cast further doubt on a scheduled visit by Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, to Belgrade next week – the first by an Albanian leader in almost 70 years.
The countries have long had a turbulent relationship, centred on Serbia’s majority-Albanian former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.
Serbia has pinned the blame on a cluster of Albanian fans in the VIP stand of the stadium, including Rama’s brother, Orfi, who were granted entrance despite a ban on ordinary Albanian fans over security concerns.
“Police have found the drone and will forward it for expert analysis to determine its producer and where it was purchased,” Stefanovic said in a statement.
“Statements by leaders of the Albanian government demonstrate that they knew such a provocation was being prepared.
“If Albania believes that European values are the values of so-called ‘Greater Albania’, then the Serbian Republic cannot share them by any means, and hence we believe that they are not mature enough as a state to join the European family.”
The remarks are unlikely to please Albania, with the prime minister due to visit Belgrade on 22 October. The visit had been hailed as opening a new chapter in otherwise fraught relations. Both countries aim to one day join the European Union. Albania is already a member of Nato.

No comments: