Serbia-Albania match abandoned following appearance of flag waving drone

[frogwoman]

Regardless of the wider situation, the history of the conflict and even the decision to let them play each other, it seems bizarre punishing Albania. Just on grounds of safety it seemed like a reasonable decision to withdraw from the match. Only exception to that would be if the helicopter-flag thing could be pinned on someone conncected with the team or Albanian Association, which would obviously make them responsible for what happened.

agreed, im not sure the drone had anything to do with the Albanian team did it?

And to be honest faced with 30,000 fans many of whom were shouting "kill the shiptars" and throwing missiles and chairs etc, throwing stuff at them, its not unreasonable that many of the Albanian players would have thought they were going to do just that.

 

[not-bono-ever]

its an ongoing discussion as to whether these two countries should have been allowed to play each other at all - UEFA sticks with its principle of no politics in football , sometimes to the detriment of the game- though they have steppen in to armenia/azeri issues of late after an embarrasing stand off a decade ago and probabaly more tellingly in this draw, ensured that Spain ( current Euro champions and one of the most important revenue generating leagues in the world ) were assured they could not meet Gibraltar.

Israel of course are allowed into UEFA as they would not be tolerated elsewhere...

In the big scheme of things the financial side of Albania/ Serbia didnt amount to fuck all, so nothing was done.

PS - you shouldnt allow this to colour any trip to the area- this isnt representative of all serbs/albs !

 

[Wilf]

agreed, im not sure the drone had anything to do with the Albanian team did it?
.

I suppose there's a suspicion, assuming it was launched from within the ground, that somebody with better than normal fan access had to have done it. But no, I've not heard any evidence linking it to the team at all.

 

[frogwoman]

its an ongoing discussion as to whether these two countries should have been allowed to play each other at all - UEFA sticks with its principle of no politics in football , sometimes to the detriment of the game- though they have steppen in to armenia/azeri issues of late after an embarrasing stand off a decade ago and probabaly more tellingly in this draw, ensured that Spain ( current Euro champions and one of the most important revenue generating leagues in the world ) were assured they could not meet Gibraltar.

Israel of course are allowed into UEFA as they would not be tolerated elsewhere...

In the big scheme of things the financial side of Albania/ Serbia didnt amount to fuck all, so nothing was done.

PS - you shouldnt allow this to colour any trip to the area- this isnt representative of all serbs/albs !

I know mate. I certainly don't think all Serbs/Albanians are like this. However I might have trouble finding someone to go with me. I have always wanted to go to both countries but probably wouldn't do it on my own

 

[Onket]

it will be appealed and if a success, then will be replayed on neutral ground

Was there an appeal?

 

[not-bono-ever]

yup and was upheld

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/news/newsid=2190630.html

 

[Onket]

Serbia's next two games behind closed doors, then.

Wonder what the comments said!

 

[frogwoman]

yup and was upheld

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/news/newsid=2190630.html

The right decision I think.

 

[frogwoman]

Does anyone think that had the match been played in Tirana with only Albanian fans it would have had a different outcome? I doubt it tbh.

 

[not-bono-ever]

I dunno - Albania doesnt have a huge record of hooliganism ( a few Kosovo based incidents apart) and I cannot envisage many/ any serbs going to a game in Tirana even if they were allowed. Its hard to say what the reaction of the partisan all Alb crowd would be to a visiting Serb team. I dont think you would have had the bother that was likley with the Belgrade game. the serb hoolies who have been involved in the bother are all arkhan like - macho bullies in a crowd - they would not survive in albania.