- Serbia's participation in Euro 2024 is in jeopardy
- This threat comes after Serbia's opening match loss
- Serbia's next match is against Slovenia
Serbia’s participation in Euro 2024 is in jeopardy after fans at the Croatia vs. Albania match engaged in offensive chanting. The chants reportedly referenced the killing of Serbians.
Jovan Surbatovic, Serbia’s FA General Secretary, demanded UEFA, European football’s governing body, impose strong sanctions against Croatia and Albania. He went as far as suggesting Serbia might withdraw from the competition if no action is taken.
“The chants were disgraceful,” Surbatovic told Serbian state broadcaster RTS. “We will demand the strongest sanctions from UEFA, even if it means pulling out of the tournament.”
This threat comes after Serbia’s opening match loss to England and a separate UEFA decision to revoke the credentials of a Kosovar journalist, Arlind Sadiku. Sadiku made a gesture perceived as nationalistic towards Serbian fans during the England match.
“We are confident UEFA will punish these incidents,” Surbatovic said, referencing the Kosovar journalist situation. “If they don’t punish both Croatia and Albania for the chants, we will have to consider our next steps.”
The BBC has reached out to both Serbia and UEFA for further comment.
Serbia has already faced fines for fan behavior during the tournament, including throwing objects during the England match. Both Serbia and Albania were also previously fined for fans displaying nationalistic banners.
“Our previous punishments felt unfair,” Surbatovic argued. “We believe our fans have behaved better than others. We condemn any acts of racism or hatred, and we urge our fans to remain respectful.”
Serbia’s next match is against Slovenia on Thursday.
