Serbia v Albania
- Abandoned
Riot police had to be brought in to restore calm but the Serbia-Albania match was abandoned, as Wendy Urquhart reports
Serbia's match with Albania was abandoned after a drone carrying a political message sparked clashes involving players and fans on the Partizan Stadium pitch.
The Euro 2016 qualifier, refereed by English official Martin Atkinson, was suspended in the 41st minute at 0-0.
Trouble flared when a nationalist Albanian banner flew above the pitch and was caught by a Serbia player.
Albania players tried to take it before several fans broke onto the pitch.
Serbian B92 Television journalist Milos Saranovic |
|---|
|
One small stupid situation made an explosion - that is the shortest way to describe the incident of the night |
Atkinson led the players off the field and, after a delay of around 30 minutes, Uefa confirmed the match had been abandoned.
Albanian fans had been banned from attending the qualifier between the two Balkan rival nations.
Serbia and Albania have a history of turbulent relations, predominantly in relation to the former Serbian province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.
It has been recognised by the United States and major European Union countries, but Serbia refuses to do so, as do most ethnic Serbs inside Kosovo.
"It is a regretful situation on which we will report; the referee, myself and the security adviser. The circumstances were such that we couldn't continue the match," Uefa match delegate Harry Been said.
Some fans invaded the pitch following the clash between the players in the Euro 2016 qualifier
"You all saw what happened and I cannot comment on who is to blame or what to blame. I will submit a report with my colleagues to Uefa and Uefa will decide what will happen further."
Serbian national broadcaster RTS reported that Olsi Rama, the brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was arrested in the stadium's VIP box for instigating the drone stunt, but he later denied that was the case.
Serbian B92 Television journalist Milos Saranovic, who was at the match, told BBC Sport: "The whole atmosphere before the game was that Serbia and Albania was more politically sensitive than any other game.
"I cannot remember for years so many police at the stadium. Everything looked like a situation that is not normal.
"One small stupid situation made an explosion - that is the shortest way to describe the incident of the night.
"The players have usually been able to keep the atmosphere on the pitch normal. The game was normal for 40 minutes with no small accident on the pitch but when that flag appeared, the heat was going up."
How the incident unfolded |
|---|
|
A drone carrying an Albanian flag is flown above the stands and pitch at the Partizan Stadium |
|
Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic pulls down the flag which several Albania players then attempted to take |
|
A melee involving numerous players ensues, prompting English referee Martin Atkinson to lead the teams off the field after some fans got onto the pitch |
|
Following a delay of about 30 minutes, the match is abandoned |
Albania had been looking for their second win in Group I, having started the day top with four points.
Denmark, in second place before Tuesday's games, lost to Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a last-minute goal in a 1-0 win.
In other matches, Switzerland beat San Marino 4-0 in Group E - England's group - while Gibraltar lost 3-0 to Georgia in Group D. In that section's other games, Scotland drew 2-2 in Poland while the Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 in Germany.
Northern Ireland recorded their third win in as many games to beat Greece 2-0 and top Group F with nine points.
Finally, in Group F, Hungary edged Faroe Islands 1-0 and Romania won 2-0 in Finland.
Stefan Mitrovic pulled down the flag before Albania players tried to grab it back
A skirmish between Serbian and Albanian players broke out on the pitch
Albania players leave the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group I game against Serbia
Serbian riot police surround Serbian supporters after a fight broke out on the pitch
A masked supporter pulls the drone that had carried the flag over the pitch
Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (0)
Serbia
- 01 Stojkovic
- 06 Ivanovic Booked
- 13 Mitrovic
- 05 Nastasic
- 11 Kolarov
- 08 Gudelj
- 14 Matic
- 07 Tosic
- 19 Djuricic
- 10 Tadic
- 18 Lazovic
Substitutes
- 02 Maksimovic
- 03 Tosic
- 04 Petrovic
- 09 Djordjevic
- 12 Rajkovic
- 15 Tomovic
- 16 Jojic
- 17 Ignjovski
- 20 Mitrovic
- 21 Markovic
- 22 Kuzmanovic
- 23 Brkic
Albania
- 01 Berisha
- 04 Hysaj
- 05 Cana
- 15 Mavraj
- 07 Agolli Booked
- 13 Kukeli
- 02 Lila
- 22 Abrashi
- 14 Xhaka
- 03 Lenjani
- 19 Balaj
Substitutes
- 06 Curri
- 08 Shala
- 09 Kapllani
- 10 Rama
- 11 Vila
- 12 Shehi
- 16 Cikalleshi
- 17 Meha
- 18 Salihi
- 20 Kace
- 21 Vajushi
- 23 Hoxha
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match abandoned due to crowd trouble, Serbia 0, Albania 0.
41:16Delay over. They are ready to continue.
41:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
41:14Delay in match (Serbia).
40:35Offside, Albania. Ermir Lenjani tries a through ball, but Bekim Balaj is caught offside.
40:09Offside, Serbia. Darko Lazovic tries a through ball, but Dusan Tadic is caught offside.
38:58Corner, Albania. Conceded by Aleksandar Kolarov.
38:11Attempt saved. Ermir Lenjani (Albania) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ansi Agolli.
37:08Foul by Nemanja Gudelj (Serbia).
37:08Bekim Balaj (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
35:58Attempt missed. Lorik Cana (Albania) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ansi Agolli with a cross following a corner.
34:44Corner, Albania. Conceded by Nemanja Matic.
34:43Attempt saved. Mergim Mavraj (Albania) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Amir Abrashi.
34:41Attempt missed. Amir Abrashi (Albania) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
34:01 BookingBooking Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
33:57Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia).
33:57Ermir Lenjani (Albania) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
33:19 BookingBooking Ansi Agolli (Albania) is shown the yellow card.
32:01Foul by Stefan Mitrovic (Serbia).
32:01Bekim Balaj (Albania) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Albania. Conceded by Zoran Tosic.
29:34Foul by Stefan Mitrovic (Serbia).
29:34Bekim Balaj (Albania) wins a free kick on the left wing.
24:36Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Lorik Cana.
24:32Attempt blocked. Dusan Tadic (Serbia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov.
23:59Foul by Dusan Tadic (Serbia).
23:59Lorik Cana (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
22:51Foul by Nemanja Gudelj (Serbia).
22:51Bekim Balaj (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
21:55Dusan Tadic (Serbia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
21:55Foul by Lorik Cana (Albania).
19:46Foul by Darko Lazovic (Serbia).
19:46Mergim Mavraj (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
18:47Delay over. They are ready to continue.
18:20Delay in match Burim Kukeli (Albania) because of an injury.
15:34Attempt missed. Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Filip Djuricic.
14:11Attempt missed. Zoran Tosic (Serbia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Dusan Tadic.
13:42Delay over. They are ready to continue.
12:56Delay in match Andi Lila (Albania) because of an injury.
10:12Nemanja Gudelj (Serbia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
10:12Foul by Amir Abrashi (Albania).
7:29Aleksandar Kolarov (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7:29Foul by Amir Abrashi (Albania).
6:25Attempt missed. Dusan Tadic (Serbia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Filip Djuricic.
4:26Foul by Zoran Tosic (Serbia).
4:26Ansi Agolli (Albania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
2:54Nemanja Gudelj (Serbia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
2:54Foul by Ermir Lenjani (Albania).
2:15Attempt blocked. Filip Djuricic (Serbia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
1:19Dusan Tadic (Serbia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
1:19Foul by Elseid Hysaj (Albania).
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Live data and text provided by our data suppliers