Red Star Fans Pelt Policeman With Flares
By Tom Dunmore • Dec 2nd, 2007 • Category: Hooliganism • 11 responses
Serious trouble erupted in Serbia and Greece this weekend.
As Red Star Belgrade took on Hajduk Kula in the Serbian first division, a policeman was seriously injured after fans spotted him filming them in plain clothes.
The policeman (right) fired two shots into the air after he had been hit with burning flares, his clothes setting on fire.
“The fans recognised a police officer on duty wearing plain clothes and attacked him,” police commander Borivoje Tosic told Belgrade media. “The officer sustained serious injuries from burning flares and broken seats and is receiving treatment in hospital.”
Three fans have been arrested after riot police moved in, and the officer is being treated at a military clinic. As far as I can gather, thankfully his life is not in danger.
More photos after the jump. Warning: they show the events graphically.
Meanwhile, in Greece, the game between AEK Athens and Aris in Thessaloniki was held-up for 85 minutes after a flare thrown from the crowd nearly hit AEK’s Traianos Dellas. The referee ordered the AEK fans to leave the stadium, their reluctance leading to the delay.
Bizarrely, it was only weeks ago that trouble had erupted when Red Star visited Aris in the UEFA Cup.
Tom Dunmore is the editor of Pitch Invasion.
Email this author | All posts by Tom Dunmore
[...] Riots in Serbia (Pitch Invasion) [...]
Seriously, can we just ban Serbia from UEFA competition for the next 3-5 years or so? Between this and the match-fixing scandal, it’s a wonder that country’s FA hasn’t collapsed by now.
Banning Serbia is not a solution, but for now it looks like the only thing that can be done. The thing with Serbia and Italy is that almost all the violations (match fixing and violence) are taking place inside there own leagues, not really troubling other UEFA members. And i also believe that it was one of the biggest mistake for UEFA to ban England, they know it and it will take something very serous to do it again.
I’m not sure what the solution is myself, but I’m pretty sure neither does the Serbian government, judging from their response today. The phrase “repressive action is necessary” is I hope a poor translation, as more physical conflict is likely to lead to more problems.
[...] we reported that after fans of Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade uncovered a policeman covertly filming them in [...]
Why even let a 40+ year old man film one of the worlds most violent supporters? It’s almost his own/police fault that he got beat up
[...] Star Belgrade’s Marakana stadium, as this series was sparked (pun intended) by the attack on a policeman with flares there last [...]
Wow! These pics say it all. Some great action shots there. I especially like the first one.
When I saw this on the sidebar, I thought it was about Chicago Red Star . . .
Believe me, it will be come April (don’t tell Peter Wilt!).
Be careful out there, Tom.
I’m not admitted in Illinois and can’t get you out of Cook County . ..