12 persons arrested for attacking Croat fans

This was a disgraceful attack above all because it wasn't some heat of the moment fisty cuffs between hooligans, but it was something well planned in advance by hooligans upon ordinary supporters visiting Serbia.

We all know about the reports of cars with Serbian numberplates but this type of thing wherever it goes on deserves unreserved condemnation. I would impose the strictest punishments for these dumb goons.

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.
(Berk., 25 January 2012 14:43)

You mean like it's done in Kosovo with people who attack cars (if they are arrested at all, of course)?

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.
(Berk., 25 January 2012 14:43)
--
LOL! And so says the Albanian where murder against Serbs goes unpunished in "Kosova". In fact, no-one is ever arrested.

As for the events in Novi Sad, lets get the facts and punish those responsible. From my experience, I have not seen a Croatian having any problems in Serbia and I can tell you, there are a lot of them.

This is strange as Novi Sad has a huge Croatian population and there are seldom attacks or problems.

Let's hear more about this story. I was at a Soccer game (Croatia v Serbia) and they Croatian fans gave the hitler salute which obviously caused problems/fights.

If they didn't provoke or instigate this trouble then the Serbs who did this should be ashamed and do no good for Serbs or the Serbian name.

Job well done. Serbia should not stand for such behavior. Sport fans can behave badly, especially when alcohol is involved. However, there is never any excuse for attacking others or harming property. As much as I love sports, sometimes this type of behavior wherever it occurs makes me hate organized sports.

Typical Serbian state authorities...
Always trying to suck up to somebody,lets arrest the whole town or what...

If that happened in Croatia to Serbs the police would be "searching for the unknown culprits"...

LOL! And so says the Albanian where murder against Serbs goes unpunished in "Kosova". In fact, no-one is ever arrested.
(Zoran, 25 January 2012 16:25)

Exactly. This is the same troll that wants an "Oluja" in northern Kosovo. Good that these people were arrested, though pictures of the match show lots of checkered-scarf wearing kids giving the Nazi salute. Real "European" of these Croats :)

"Certainly, compared to English sports fans all Yugoslavs seem quite tame."

Are you living in the 70's?
I regulary attend football matches in Serbia with my two daughters, It can get scary here.
I haven't been to an English match for years, but I heard the clapping can damage your ears. :)

Being English, I know all about hooligans and how it feels to be targeted by them.

So, from my point-of-view these attacks against Croatian handball fans, though totally unacceptable, seemed relatively minor to me.

Nevertheless, as I understand it, some of these Croatian fans wore red and white chequered shirts on the streets - a design I actually like, by the way, because it's common in English heraldry. This may seem acceptable, but I wonder what would have happened if Serbian supporters wore their own emblems so openly on Croatian streets.

Are Croats, then, braver than Serbs? Or is it because, in their hearts, they know that most Serbian people - even youths - are quite tolerant, despite the propaganda to the contrary?

Certainly, compared to English sports fans all Yugoslavs seem quite tame.

And that's a compliment.

"I like to think that Serbia is civilized country."

What we'd like to think and what reality is are different things aren't they?

"From my experience, I have not seen a Croatian having any problems in Serbia and I can tell you, there are a lot of them."

There sure are! just under 1% of the population according to census .

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.

It's basically retribution for all of the attacks on not only Serb fans but just everyday Serb visitors to Croatia! Enough whining about it, there is bad blood on both sides and groups that want to promote it like anywhere else in the world. Otherwise, why are there so many remarks about the province of Kosovo for this article?

Although Serbian police were just "doing their jobs" it's possible that some Serbs may brand these Serb cops as being "national traitors" for penalizing Serbs who assaulted the Croat fans but it's my belief that these Serb cops aren't national traitors.

Completely agree with these arrests. There is no place for this xenophobia in Serbia. At the same time, when will the organ snatchers in Kosovo be arrested? What about all those child prostitutes you bring into the region and the heroin?????

There is no excuse for any violence provoked or not. I applaud Serbian police for reacting fast and swiftly. Let this be a lesson to Croatians and Serbs visiting each others countries that times are not ripe just yet. Leave your nationalistic emotions at home. Respect your neighbors the way you like too be respected .

If that happened in Croatia to Serbs the police would be "searching for the unknown culprits"...
(CG, 25 January 2012 20:27)

CG, I agree with you. But we are not Croatians. I like to think that Serbia is civilized country.

these disgraces of society are anything but sports fans. they are scum that know they can do as they please after all anarchy goes as accepted under the handle football fan in serbia

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.
(Berk., 25 January 2012 14:43)


Nah. They'll be made an example of.

However this problem of hooliganism in Serbia has only been growing and is mostly ignored.

Good that these people were arrested, though pictures of the match show lots of checkered-scarf wearing kids giving the Nazi salute. Real "European" of these Croats :)
(Balkan Anthropologist, 25 January 2012 16:51)

Shouldn't police have reacted somehow on the Nazi salute? Isn't it forbidden? Instead the police waited until hooligans reacted...

What we'd like to think and what reality is are different things aren't they?
(Darko, 25 January 2012 22:32)

What reality are you talking about? Serbia is little rough around the edges I admit to that. Not much different then any other civilized society. But when it comes to ethnically motivated crimes Croatia is winner hands down.That’s if we exclude the most civilized democracy in Europe called “Kosova“. lol

'Certainly, compared to English sports fans all Yugoslavs seem quite tame.

And that's a compliment.'
(TP, 25 January 2012 17:20)

As a brit, I am more than familiar with the (well recorded)behaviour of 'English sports fans'.
My experience and knowledge goes all the way back to the streets of manchester in the 60's.
Your sweeping generalisation of 'english sports fans' is very misleading and is insulting to the number of sports that have never experienced the levels of fear and violence that was common amongst football fans (which I believe you were referring to)
As for the statement 'all yugoslavs being tame compared to the 'english'? Does that not imply that all yugoslavs are violent, but not as violent as the english?
Not a clever statement, for either set of fans

Peggy I didn't see nazi salutes. But what is your point really? Are you saying that because in a stadium some 'supporters' did a nazi salute, this constitutes justification for the attacking of other supporters?

When in London in years gone by I went to a football match, if I had been beaten by a group of Tottenham fans, because some Arsenal fans made anti semetic chants / nazi salutes would I have deserved it, or would it 'explain' their attacks upon me, as somebody who supported Arsenal? Or perhaps they were just a bunch of hooligans who would have attacked me anyway?

I really don't understand the tit for tat mentality. I was raised to always understand the why's but never to pander or to stoop to the level of condoning wrongdoing, 'provoked' or not. If enough people set this example there would be little to no wrongdoing in the first place.

If they targeted the supporters who came and gave the nazi salute on our own territory then I fully agree with it. How dare they do that horrible salute which is a symbol of so much pain and suffering for so many of our family.

Like I said, if they attacked the innocent (who did not give nazi salute) then they should be ashamed and it's cowardly.

Nazi salute will not be tolerated.

Innocent attacks will not be tolerated.

We all know about the reports of cars with Serbian numberplates but this type of thing wherever it goes on deserves unreserved condemnation. I would impose the strictest punishments for these dumb goons.
(bganon, 25 January 2012 15:38)
==========================

I agree with you on not tolerating any thuggery especially if planned but if reports of Nazi salutes are true don't you think that these "supporters" also planned provocation? What about condemnation of this and why did the authorities not react to this?
Seems to me that there is plenty of condemnation to go around and perhaps a Croatian ambassador should be asked to explain just like the Serbian was.

usaSERB

I really do not know what you're talking about. I don't remember reading an article in the last 10 days about Croatians attacking ethnic Serbs :-) seriously, even when you set upon others you feel like a victim? oh dear

Peggy I didn't see nazi salutes. But what is your point really? Are you saying that because in a stadium some 'supporters' did a nazi salute, this constitutes justification for the attacking of other supporters?

When in London in years gone by I went to a football match, if I had been beaten by a group of Tottenham fans, because some Arsenal fans made anti semetic chants / nazi salutes would I have deserved it, or would it 'explain' their attacks upon me, as somebody who supported Arsenal? Or perhaps they were just a bunch of hooligans who would have attacked me anyway?

I really don't understand the tit for tat mentality. I was raised to always understand the why's but never to pander or to stoop to the level of condoning wrongdoing, 'provoked' or not. If enough people set this example there would be little to no wrongdoing in the first place.
(bganon, 26 January 2012 13:59)

Excuse me, it wasn't your post to me, but may I try to answer?

the point is that it wasn't justification of attack by hooligans on football fans, but rather pretension to police - why didn't it take steps to stop provocations in the form of Nazi solute if it realy happened?

'the point is that it wasn't justification of attack by hooligans on football fans, but rather pretension to police - why didn't it take steps to stop provocations in the form of Nazi solute if it realy happened?'

aaay - have you been to sporting events in Europe?
Second point do you remember the case of Uros when the policeman had a firework put in his throat just for being inside the supporters section

At sporting events like football, or any where there are many young men present, people are not arrested or taken away for nazi salutes or for calling for the killing of Serbs, Croats or Albanians.

Even less in this part of the world...

aaayyyy I'm afraid verbal, ethnic and racial abuse at large events involving young men is pretty commonplace and usually isn't punished.

The exception is in certain countries at certain larger clubs where there is coverage and families in crowds. Perhaps countries like Sweden don't have it though, who knows?

But in traditional basketball, football (and now handball) events in the Balkans I regularly hear murderous and disgusting statements by 'fans'. They are never punished. It doesn't affect the way I feel about the club(s) I support though.

I haven't been to an English match for years, but I heard the clapping can damage your ears. :)
(John)

It's not what happens during the match that counts.

Remember that these hooligans are not really sports fans.

You seem to be just a little bit proud of what you are saying about Yugoslav 'fans' today.

Having seen football supporters in Yugoslavia IN THE 1970S, even my ears were safe.

No, I haven't been to major sporting events anywhere, I don't like things that you describe.

I remember scandal with a Balkan support group (Croatian, if I am not mistaken) over their crying out anti-black people slogans during a game with African team, so I didn't think every verbal/symbolic abuse was possible at sporting events.

Bgannon, I really don't understand why you insist on butchering what I say.
At what point did I say that I approved of attacks?
Go on, please show me where I said it was ok. If you can't then I insist that you stop putting words in my mouth in order to make you point.

All I am saying is that pointing out that we don't want to be like Croatians who beat up on us is not a bad thing and if the truth insults them then too bad.

Why are you against the truth or are you only for the truth which fits into you little package of how civilized you are. Let's congratulate your parents on raising such a peaceful child.

What I did say is that the police did not stop any Nazi salutes and I wanted to know why.

I really don't want to go in circles with you so either show me where I supported the Serbs attacking Croatians or stop saying I did or implying I did by asking me if I did. I actually even said that I did not support any thuggery, especially when planned. Did you miss that?

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.
(Berk., 25 January 2012 14:43)

You mean like it's done in Kosovo with people who attack cars (if they are arrested at all, of course)?

Typical Serbian state authorities...
Always trying to suck up to somebody,lets arrest the whole town or what...

If that happened in Croatia to Serbs the police would be "searching for the unknown culprits"...

Good that these people were arrested, though pictures of the match show lots of checkered-scarf wearing kids giving the Nazi salute. Real "European" of these Croats :)
(Balkan Anthropologist, 25 January 2012 16:51)

Shouldn't police have reacted somehow on the Nazi salute? Isn't it forbidden? Instead the police waited until hooligans reacted...

Completely agree with these arrests. There is no place for this xenophobia in Serbia. At the same time, when will the organ snatchers in Kosovo be arrested? What about all those child prostitutes you bring into the region and the heroin?????

LOL! And so says the Albanian where murder against Serbs goes unpunished in "Kosova". In fact, no-one is ever arrested.
(Zoran, 25 January 2012 16:25)

Exactly. This is the same troll that wants an "Oluja" in northern Kosovo. Good that these people were arrested, though pictures of the match show lots of checkered-scarf wearing kids giving the Nazi salute. Real "European" of these Croats :)

"From my experience, I have not seen a Croatian having any problems in Serbia and I can tell you, there are a lot of them."

There sure are! just under 1% of the population according to census .

If that happened in Croatia to Serbs the police would be "searching for the unknown culprits"...
(CG, 25 January 2012 20:27)

CG, I agree with you. But we are not Croatians. I like to think that Serbia is civilized country.

This is strange as Novi Sad has a huge Croatian population and there are seldom attacks or problems.

Let's hear more about this story. I was at a Soccer game (Croatia v Serbia) and they Croatian fans gave the hitler salute which obviously caused problems/fights.

If they didn't provoke or instigate this trouble then the Serbs who did this should be ashamed and do no good for Serbs or the Serbian name.

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.
(Berk., 25 January 2012 14:43)
--
LOL! And so says the Albanian where murder against Serbs goes unpunished in "Kosova". In fact, no-one is ever arrested.

As for the events in Novi Sad, lets get the facts and punish those responsible. From my experience, I have not seen a Croatian having any problems in Serbia and I can tell you, there are a lot of them.

It's basically retribution for all of the attacks on not only Serb fans but just everyday Serb visitors to Croatia! Enough whining about it, there is bad blood on both sides and groups that want to promote it like anywhere else in the world. Otherwise, why are there so many remarks about the province of Kosovo for this article?

There is no excuse for any violence provoked or not. I applaud Serbian police for reacting fast and swiftly. Let this be a lesson to Croatians and Serbs visiting each others countries that times are not ripe just yet. Leave your nationalistic emotions at home. Respect your neighbors the way you like too be respected .

We all know about the reports of cars with Serbian numberplates but this type of thing wherever it goes on deserves unreserved condemnation. I would impose the strictest punishments for these dumb goons.
(bganon, 25 January 2012 15:38)
==========================

I agree with you on not tolerating any thuggery especially if planned but if reports of Nazi salutes are true don't you think that these "supporters" also planned provocation? What about condemnation of this and why did the authorities not react to this?
Seems to me that there is plenty of condemnation to go around and perhaps a Croatian ambassador should be asked to explain just like the Serbian was.

This was a disgraceful attack above all because it wasn't some heat of the moment fisty cuffs between hooligans, but it was something well planned in advance by hooligans upon ordinary supporters visiting Serbia.

We all know about the reports of cars with Serbian numberplates but this type of thing wherever it goes on deserves unreserved condemnation. I would impose the strictest punishments for these dumb goons.

Being English, I know all about hooligans and how it feels to be targeted by them.

So, from my point-of-view these attacks against Croatian handball fans, though totally unacceptable, seemed relatively minor to me.

Nevertheless, as I understand it, some of these Croatian fans wore red and white chequered shirts on the streets - a design I actually like, by the way, because it's common in English heraldry. This may seem acceptable, but I wonder what would have happened if Serbian supporters wore their own emblems so openly on Croatian streets.

Are Croats, then, braver than Serbs? Or is it because, in their hearts, they know that most Serbian people - even youths - are quite tolerant, despite the propaganda to the contrary?

Certainly, compared to English sports fans all Yugoslavs seem quite tame.

And that's a compliment.

If they targeted the supporters who came and gave the nazi salute on our own territory then I fully agree with it. How dare they do that horrible salute which is a symbol of so much pain and suffering for so many of our family.

Like I said, if they attacked the innocent (who did not give nazi salute) then they should be ashamed and it's cowardly.

Nazi salute will not be tolerated.

Innocent attacks will not be tolerated.

What we'd like to think and what reality is are different things aren't they?
(Darko, 25 January 2012 22:32)

What reality are you talking about? Serbia is little rough around the edges I admit to that. Not much different then any other civilized society. But when it comes to ethnically motivated crimes Croatia is winner hands down.That’s if we exclude the most civilized democracy in Europe called “Kosova“. lol

Job well done. Serbia should not stand for such behavior. Sport fans can behave badly, especially when alcohol is involved. However, there is never any excuse for attacking others or harming property. As much as I love sports, sometimes this type of behavior wherever it occurs makes me hate organized sports.

Although Serbian police were just "doing their jobs" it's possible that some Serbs may brand these Serb cops as being "national traitors" for penalizing Serbs who assaulted the Croat fans but it's my belief that these Serb cops aren't national traitors.

"Certainly, compared to English sports fans all Yugoslavs seem quite tame."

Are you living in the 70's?
I regulary attend football matches in Serbia with my two daughters, It can get scary here.
I haven't been to an English match for years, but I heard the clapping can damage your ears. :)

"I like to think that Serbia is civilized country."

What we'd like to think and what reality is are different things aren't they?

'Certainly, compared to English sports fans all Yugoslavs seem quite tame.

And that's a compliment.'
(TP, 25 January 2012 17:20)

As a brit, I am more than familiar with the (well recorded)behaviour of 'English sports fans'.
My experience and knowledge goes all the way back to the streets of manchester in the 60's.
Your sweeping generalisation of 'english sports fans' is very misleading and is insulting to the number of sports that have never experienced the levels of fear and violence that was common amongst football fans (which I believe you were referring to)
As for the statement 'all yugoslavs being tame compared to the 'english'? Does that not imply that all yugoslavs are violent, but not as violent as the english?
Not a clever statement, for either set of fans

I guess that most of them if not all will be released very soon.
(Berk., 25 January 2012 14:43)


Nah. They'll be made an example of.

However this problem of hooliganism in Serbia has only been growing and is mostly ignored.

these disgraces of society are anything but sports fans. they are scum that know they can do as they please after all anarchy goes as accepted under the handle football fan in serbia

I haven't been to an English match for years, but I heard the clapping can damage your ears. :)
(John)

It's not what happens during the match that counts.

Remember that these hooligans are not really sports fans.

You seem to be just a little bit proud of what you are saying about Yugoslav 'fans' today.

Having seen football supporters in Yugoslavia IN THE 1970S, even my ears were safe.

usaSERB

I really do not know what you're talking about. I don't remember reading an article in the last 10 days about Croatians attacking ethnic Serbs :-) seriously, even when you set upon others you feel like a victim? oh dear

Peggy I didn't see nazi salutes. But what is your point really? Are you saying that because in a stadium some 'supporters' did a nazi salute, this constitutes justification for the attacking of other supporters?

When in London in years gone by I went to a football match, if I had been beaten by a group of Tottenham fans, because some Arsenal fans made anti semetic chants / nazi salutes would I have deserved it, or would it 'explain' their attacks upon me, as somebody who supported Arsenal? Or perhaps they were just a bunch of hooligans who would have attacked me anyway?

I really don't understand the tit for tat mentality. I was raised to always understand the why's but never to pander or to stoop to the level of condoning wrongdoing, 'provoked' or not. If enough people set this example there would be little to no wrongdoing in the first place.

'the point is that it wasn't justification of attack by hooligans on football fans, but rather pretension to police - why didn't it take steps to stop provocations in the form of Nazi solute if it realy happened?'

aaay - have you been to sporting events in Europe?
Second point do you remember the case of Uros when the policeman had a firework put in his throat just for being inside the supporters section

At sporting events like football, or any where there are many young men present, people are not arrested or taken away for nazi salutes or for calling for the killing of Serbs, Croats or Albanians.

Even less in this part of the world...

aaayyyy I'm afraid verbal, ethnic and racial abuse at large events involving young men is pretty commonplace and usually isn't punished.

The exception is in certain countries at certain larger clubs where there is coverage and families in crowds. Perhaps countries like Sweden don't have it though, who knows?

But in traditional basketball, football (and now handball) events in the Balkans I regularly hear murderous and disgusting statements by 'fans'. They are never punished. It doesn't affect the way I feel about the club(s) I support though.

Peggy I didn't see nazi salutes. But what is your point really? Are you saying that because in a stadium some 'supporters' did a nazi salute, this constitutes justification for the attacking of other supporters?

When in London in years gone by I went to a football match, if I had been beaten by a group of Tottenham fans, because some Arsenal fans made anti semetic chants / nazi salutes would I have deserved it, or would it 'explain' their attacks upon me, as somebody who supported Arsenal? Or perhaps they were just a bunch of hooligans who would have attacked me anyway?

I really don't understand the tit for tat mentality. I was raised to always understand the why's but never to pander or to stoop to the level of condoning wrongdoing, 'provoked' or not. If enough people set this example there would be little to no wrongdoing in the first place.
(bganon, 26 January 2012 13:59)

Excuse me, it wasn't your post to me, but may I try to answer?

the point is that it wasn't justification of attack by hooligans on football fans, but rather pretension to police - why didn't it take steps to stop provocations in the form of Nazi solute if it realy happened?

No, I haven't been to major sporting events anywhere, I don't like things that you describe.

I remember scandal with a Balkan support group (Croatian, if I am not mistaken) over their crying out anti-black people slogans during a game with African team, so I didn't think every verbal/symbolic abuse was possible at sporting events.

Bgannon, I really don't understand why you insist on butchering what I say.
At what point did I say that I approved of attacks?
Go on, please show me where I said it was ok. If you can't then I insist that you stop putting words in my mouth in order to make you point.

All I am saying is that pointing out that we don't want to be like Croatians who beat up on us is not a bad thing and if the truth insults them then too bad.

Why are you against the truth or are you only for the truth which fits into you little package of how civilized you are. Let's congratulate your parents on raising such a peaceful child.

What I did say is that the police did not stop any Nazi salutes and I wanted to know why.

I really don't want to go in circles with you so either show me where I supported the Serbs attacking Croatians or stop saying I did or implying I did by asking me if I did. I actually even said that I did not support any thuggery, especially when planned. Did you miss that?