UEFA gives Serbia victory over Albania - but no points

This decision favours Portugal and Denmark, and cripples both Albania and Serbia. While Balkan nations are on each other throats, clever European counterparts are laughing all the way home while taking advantage of Serbian and Albanian stupidities.

After today's decision, WEFA Disciplinary Regulation should change as follows:

Article 1
"A football match can never be suspended unless one of the payers (at least) is dead on the football pitch"

Author: Mitchel Platini...ovic

OH Cool. So UEFA just gave the Albanian fans the OK to beat the sh.t out of the serbian players in the next game.

UEFA just shot the last bullet on the wounded being called 'justice'. From now on, all European hooligans may feel free to drool racist slogans without fear of punishment. UEFA, who is supposed to be the most impartial in such cases, turn a blind eye to racist slogans 'Ubi ubi siptara', 'Ubi zakolji, da siptar ne postoji', 'Ko ne skače, taj je šiptar'. Accoridng to UEFA, Serbian fans were so quiet and the main perpetrators were Albanians (though not a single Albanian was allowed to enter in stadium) who happened to enter in a quite ghostly fashion. I already knew that UEFA is overly politized, but I could never imagine they would decide in favour of racists. Serbian thugs threw concretes and entered freely in the pitch, while its Albania who should carry the burden of blame. It was Serbian thugs who assaulted Albanian players, while its Football Association of Albania who should be punished for the misdeeds of Serbian thugs. UEFA pays lip service to campaigns ''Say no to racism'', and in meantime this institution give amnesty to serbian racists. UEFA just inspire Serbian racists and their lot to repeat their horrendous acts because from now on, UEFA promotes racism!

After this scandalous decision, as an Albanian, I really hope and pray that the return leg IS NOT played in Albania, or if it is, I hope it's behind closed doors as things could get ugly ! I thought I had seen it all, but obviously not, as this joke of a decision proves ! What next UEFA ? An apology maybe, from some of the Albanian players for almost breaking Serbian hooligans' chairs with their heads ?! You bunch of corrupt crooks.
Regardless of who we support, football has lost today, because today will be remembered as the day that UEFA set a dangerous precedent and legitimised violence,racism and lack of organisation and sportsmanship.

It's official. UEFA sidelined itself with Nazis and awarded three points to Serbia.

Chants "Kill All Albanian" in the stadium were not political but the drone was.

Now we know where Albanian people stand in Europe, to be used only for rape, slaughter, humiliation.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/news/newsid=2172207.html#serbia+albania+disciplinary+decision

There is absolutely no winner in this case. Serbia and Albania both lost. The real winners here are the rest of group I

Ok, so both Albania and Serbia are screwed now.Albania is screwed because of the artificial goal differential now on their record and Serbia is screwed because they now get no points and they probably expected 3 at the table or in the field. Thing is, the game was 0-0 when it ended and most likely would have ended like that, so why come up with this stupid decision of +3 -3? This is solely to the benefit of Denmark and Portugal.It absolutely does nothing to the ranking of Albania vis-à-vis Serbia within the Group. If Albania and Serbia were smart, they would both lodge an appeal and demand that the fairest thing to do is re-play the game (if this is allowed). When the game is replayed in another country, they should just draw on purpose so that they each get 1 point & give the middle finger to UEFA + improve their chances vis-à-vis Denmark and Portugal. I said if they were _smart_!

Step 1. stage an unprecedented provocation using a fascist flag and a drone

Step 2. Start a fight (Albanian football players)

Step 3. play the victim when you don't get awarded the game and blame everyone else

This is just what the Albanian PM is trying to do as well I mean seriously don't some people get tired of always playing the victim, grow a spine! This is not aimed at every Albanian but rather people that displays this ridiculous behavior.

As much as I disagree with this decision, I think it is fair. Albania should have gone back to the field and play soccer when the referee demanded. Whoever advised against going into the pitch made a fatal analytical error. Rather than trying to win three points in the table they should fought hard for it. Either way the hooligans would have been in the pitch within minutes and then the referee would have to halt the game.

Let this be a lesson for both countries and more important a lesson for the hooligans in Serbia that every time they go into self-destruct they damage their country and their national team reputation.

Both FA's should appeal the decision and demand that the game be re-played rather than automatically lose point. If both FA's had any brains they should both agree to re-play the game even in Serbia if they have too rather than lose automatically.

Cant we just watch a nice game of soccer rather than politicize everything. Hasn't Serbia had enough of its past. Where are the ordinary families that don't raise their voices against this type of racist behavior. There is no doubt in my mind that there are plenty of families in Serbia who are disgusted by how some of their countrymen are behaving in international and local matches. From what I can see a family man cant take their son our daughter to any soccer match in Serbia without being insulted. Is that acceptable to families in Serbia?

they screamed "kill albanians",burnt the NATO flag,the albanian flag,threw fireworks,lighters,stones,even their own stewards beat the albanian players,fans fighting with stools against them.and still the winner is SERBIA.i am so ashame to be called a european .hypocrits that brawl no to racism. it is disgusting😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪

Serbian fans winned not Serbian players. This is UEFA racizem and nathing eles.

It could have been worse.. like Serbia actually winning the football game.

Still, Say No to Racism*

*unless you play in Serbia

This decision makes no sense. You can't punish one team with game abandonment, and the other for creating the conditions for this abandonment. Ether one or the other , not both. I hope that nothing like that repeats itself in the return game.
No matter what team you support, justice was not done. It seems to me more like collective punishment. UEFA took the easy way out.

This is a scandalous decision which rewards serbian racism and hooliganism

Article 1: "Any team can decide to refuse to continue the game if they don't want to, no matter what the referee decides?" Silly.
(Questioner, 24 October 2014 14:26)


Can they refuse to play if their life was in danger ? Or if they were not fitted to play because of wounds they got when they got attacked by huligans?

Serbian fans used slogans as "kill all Albanians". Just think about what would happend if let's say German fans shouted "kill the judes" in an match against Israel for example? It's racist and The game should have been stoped in The start by The referee as he is obligates to stop an match if racist slogans are used.

Uefa decided politically and that's sad.

Well we tried to watch a game but albanians cannot do anything without causing a provocation. You can't even play a soccer game without causing problems, unbelievable. I bet albanian team feels really stupid now they thought they were going to spit in host's stadium and be awarded the win. Shame.
(Ratko, 24 October 2014 16:16)

An innocent serb tries to watch a game singing " Kill the Albanians" and then a drone appears out of nowhere and ruins everything.

Great comment Srba! That's exactly the point!

@Leka i Madh: Are you sure that you heard well? I heard "Ubi, ubi Srbina", "Ko ne skace taj je Pravoslavac", "Ubi, zakolji da Srbin ne postoji" and "Ubi Srbina da Siptar nema brata". Most of all, I heard "Vucicu, pederu". I apologise if chanting "Vucicu, pederu" offended you.

UEFA did the right thing awarding the 3-0 to Serbia: the only one who can decide if a game must be suspended is the referee. The referee tried to resume the game and the albanian players refused to go back on the pitch. My personal opinion is situation was not safe and i fully understand their fear, but again if the referee ask you to go back on the pitch you either play or forfait the game, the latter being the case.
Serbia's points deduction was a harsh punishment to me, i think it's the first time such a penalty is implemented (Russia was penalized 6 point after Euro 2012, but the sanction was suspended, so in the end no point deduction was applied), but i also think that only 2 games behind closed doors it's a very light sanction given the problems with serbian supporters behaviour in the past.

People dont you see what happened here?! The decision is purely based to put borh Serbia and Albania in the back seat with the points. Ensure Denmark moves on and perhaps Portugal. EU at work!!!

"Serbian fans winned not Serbian players. This is UEFA racizem and nathing eles."
(Nebosha, 24 October 2014 12:30)

1. Learn some English.
2. It was just the opposite: Serbian team won (3 points), because Albanians refused to continue the match.
3. The behavior of violent Serbian fans and hooligans with attacks and fireworks thrown to the fields, together with insufficient security, caused the penalty of 3 points for Serbia.
4. Both teams were fined for 100.000, Serbia because of the things mentioned above, Albania because of the refusual to play and for displaying illegal banners (with political messages).
5. Serbian team must play next matches in Serbia in an empty stadium without violent fans.

To sum it: It's a good decision. And I hope the penalties will be even harder next time when those things happen again.

La Cosa Nostra runs UEFA.

@ Xhafer

Well we tried to watch a game but albanians cannot do anything without causing a provocation. You can't even play a soccer game without causing problems, unbelievable. I bet albanian team feels really stupid now they thought they were going to spit in host's stadium and be awarded the win. Shame.

Article 1
"A football match can never be suspended unless one of the payers (at least) is dead on the football pitch"

Author: Mitchel Platini...ovic
(Altin Bejko, 24 October 2014 11:44)

Would you prefer:

Article 1: "Any team can decide to refuse to continue the game if they don't want to, no matter what the referee decides?" Silly.

Well what do you know. All it takes is a UEFA decision that puts Denmark and Portugal ahead of both Serbia and Albania to have both Serbs and Albanians to protest an unfair decision and claim it was an injustice for both sides.

Who would have thought something so simple would have brought two groups together so indirectly? I'm almost pleased an unpopular decision resulted in this collective disappointment!

As hard as this decision can be, I can understand UEFA's point: no one wants Serbian and Albanian fans in final tournament, with global visibility, if they behave this way. First official match ever which yields 0 points to each team. For Albanian fans this is even prejudicial, there is no evidence the flag was flown from them, but that's of no value for UEFA, what makes the decision even more absurd.

At this point it wuold have been more fair if UEFA had expelled both teams for the behaviour of their fans (those of Albania being absent in the stadium) instead of staging such an absurd comedy. The final standings in this group will be falsed anyway, so much for "Football, we care" being UEFA's motto. If teams fix matches, they are banned for life; if Uefa changes the standings that it's OK.

As a football lover and as a fan of the Albanian team, I can only regret this outcome. Albania was on the best way to bring home a postive result from Belgrade and head towards 5 or 7 points after 3 matches, being a serious candidate for the 2nd position in the death group of Euro qualifyiers. Now Danmark and Portugal are thru, Albania is still there for the 3rd place to dispute with Armenia the play off position, Serbia's chances are minimal playing in empty stadiums. I think I will no longer spend my money to follow the matches of this group.

Was racism in the stadium or not? Of course there were racism from Serbs hooligans, who made up almost three quarter of total fans. But there is no mention of racism at all by UEFA while they pretend they fight racism in stadiums. Doesn't look they are serious on this. On the other hand how you can charge Albanians for not returning to play. That doesn't make sense at all.

What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.
(Peggy, 26 October 2014 00:21)

here is a link to a video which shows exactly what happened before, during and after the game. It is quite long and shows all the details. You hear the mob shouting, 'kill all the Albaniens, stab them, slaughter them until none of them is left', the mob going crazy well before the drone even appeared in the statium. Seeing the violence, it is clear that the game was ready to be ended before that drone ever came in the stadium.

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Post by Lindita Nikolla.

Does anyone paying attention what the news around the wolds are saying about the decision?!!!???VERY SAD....FOR EUROPEAN SPORT...

What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.
(Peggy, 26 October 2014 00:21)

You are right about the drone. It must have been planned and prepared before the game, but you are wrong to use this as an excuse for physically attacking the albanien players from the time they landed in Serbia till they left the country, and what you also ignore as well, is that it wasn't just simple chanting, they were screaming 'Death to Albaniens, Kill Albaniens' etc.... The attacks and the criminal racist behaviour started before the drone even appeared in the stadium, and not the other way around.
That was inexcusable, racist behaviour and can not be tolerated. Besides that, it violates UEFA's own rules and regulations. I am sure deep down inside you do not tolerate that as well, nobody can't. This is not directed against ordinary serbians, it is against serb hooligans, which as you remember, do have a real bad history. This is not the first time they are to blame for such behavior, and UEFA let them get away with it. That is the real scandal in this ruling.

What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.
(Peggy, 26 October 2014 00:21)

Obviously you did not watch the game at all. Kill Albanians and other slurs started when national anthem was being played, before game started. Once the game started after few minutes the flares started coming down in stadium. I thought you are a smart Aussie!?

They tried to be fair. I guess

From the outside this decision seems fair. Both sides have been punished in a situation where it was clear to an impartial observer that there was blame on both sides. Serbian officials should have done more to control their fans and have been fined and have to play two matches behind closed doors. Neither side has gained any points and Albania have ended up with the number that they would probably have gained had the match finished; ie none. UEFA have clearly concluded that a) the drone emanated from Albanian sources and b) that the players were both physically and mentally OK to continue the match but chose not to do so. I have no way of knowing if they have reached the correct conclusion because I wasn't there although UEFA officials were, but as I said at the outset, the decision (and punishments) seem fair for the charges brought. As to whether or not the Serbian FA should have been charged with racism by their fans is open to debate. "Kill Albanians" is very unpleasant but is it racist or nationalist? England fans still sing the Dambusters theme when we play Germany; again, unpleasant but not racist. An amount of turning the other cheek needs to be employed here especially as it works both ways with home and away fixtures. ANY racism needs to be stamped out but we should not attribute this title to things that are not racist for fear of diluting our argument.

I just think that unless they drone operator was found which i dont think they did) than make a decision on punishing the albanians team, Im sure an albanian did it! but hey, you never know! They did this like you punish kids get them both maybe they learn a lesson. I feel bad for both teams really... Why play f..it!

(thanasis, 26 October 2014 08:05)
If you would have stopped half way through the post it would have been an excellent post as it actually placed the blame on both sides. Which is the only deduction possible. But then when you went off on the Albanian rant you ended up as just another racist Serbian bigot, who tossed in the neutral part to sound "politically correct"

An innocent serb tries to watch a game singing " Kill the Albanians" and then a drone appears out of nowhere and ruins everything.
(Mark, 24 October 2014 18:33)
===============================
What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.

So Denmark and Portugal have already qualified for Euro 2016 while the serbian and albanian commentators of b92 are stil at each others' throats on who's more racist and more nationalist than the other. Balkans' peoples fight each other and western europeans benefit from that. Nothing will ever change in the Balkans and we're worthy of our fate. By the way Albania really had a chance of qualifying after the away win in Portugal but they preferred drones, nationalistic flags with half the blakan peninsula belonging to Albania, and becoming heroes in the eyes of illeterate masses who are high on nationalism rather than winning on the field, participating in the Euro and making their country heard for something actually good for a change.

If you would have stopped half way through the post it would have been an excellent post as it actually placed the blame on both sides. Which is the only deduction possible. But then when you went off on the Albanian rant you ended up as just another racist Serbian bigot, who tossed in the neutral part to sound "politically correct"
(started good, ended horrible., 27 October 2014 10:34)

First of all, my anonymous friend, my post did not mean to sound neutral at all and being politically correct is the least of my concerns. Secondly, i do not place the blame on both sides. I place it totally on the albanian side and i'll explain why. The booing of anthems and the racist chants are things that happen in football fields. They shouldn't happen but they do. They happened when Serbia visited Zagreb to play against Croatia in the previous qualifier. So what if the Serbs booed your anthem and yelled "ubi siptara"? Don't tell me that they hurt your feelings or you didn't expect such an attitude. Your players could have just ignored the serbian provocations, beaten them in the field and now you would be half way through to the Euro 2016. The truth is that Albania has made considerable progress in football and this should be reflected with your partecipation in a major organization.But no, you had to do things the balkan way. Now Portugal and Denmark are laughing at your stupidity and all you have to say is accuse me of serbian bigotry instead of some self-criticism. Whatever.

I hope one day in the future Albania will have a striker as prolific as Tablovic xD

Good decision though Albania should have suffered a worse penalty and Serbia should be banned from having home games after repeated problems caused by its hooligans.

What is lost on most commentators here is that just because you are exposed to a provocation does not oblige you run berserk on a mindless rampage. After a provocation, it is still allowed to use whatever brains you have to select the smarter response option available.

Otherwise, the UEFA ruling is by and large fair. Serbia was penalized because of their "patriotic hooligans", as so many times before, and the Albanian team for not respecting the referee and the rules of the game, also not for the first time.

Step 1. stage an unprecedented provocation using a fascist flag and a drone

Step 2. Start a fight (Albanian football players)

Step 3. play the victim when you don't get awarded the game and blame everyone else

This is just what the Albanian PM is trying to do as well I mean seriously don't some people get tired of always playing the victim, grow a spine! This is not aimed at every Albanian but rather people that displays this ridiculous behavior.

@ Xhafer

Well we tried to watch a game but albanians cannot do anything without causing a provocation. You can't even play a soccer game without causing problems, unbelievable. I bet albanian team feels really stupid now they thought they were going to spit in host's stadium and be awarded the win. Shame.

It's official. UEFA sidelined itself with Nazis and awarded three points to Serbia.

Chants "Kill All Albanian" in the stadium were not political but the drone was.

Now we know where Albanian people stand in Europe, to be used only for rape, slaughter, humiliation.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/news/newsid=2172207.html#serbia+albania+disciplinary+decision

UEFA just shot the last bullet on the wounded being called 'justice'. From now on, all European hooligans may feel free to drool racist slogans without fear of punishment. UEFA, who is supposed to be the most impartial in such cases, turn a blind eye to racist slogans 'Ubi ubi siptara', 'Ubi zakolji, da siptar ne postoji', 'Ko ne skače, taj je šiptar'. Accoridng to UEFA, Serbian fans were so quiet and the main perpetrators were Albanians (though not a single Albanian was allowed to enter in stadium) who happened to enter in a quite ghostly fashion. I already knew that UEFA is overly politized, but I could never imagine they would decide in favour of racists. Serbian thugs threw concretes and entered freely in the pitch, while its Albania who should carry the burden of blame. It was Serbian thugs who assaulted Albanian players, while its Football Association of Albania who should be punished for the misdeeds of Serbian thugs. UEFA pays lip service to campaigns ''Say no to racism'', and in meantime this institution give amnesty to serbian racists. UEFA just inspire Serbian racists and their lot to repeat their horrendous acts because from now on, UEFA promotes racism!

Well we tried to watch a game but albanians cannot do anything without causing a provocation. You can't even play a soccer game without causing problems, unbelievable. I bet albanian team feels really stupid now they thought they were going to spit in host's stadium and be awarded the win. Shame.
(Ratko, 24 October 2014 16:16)

An innocent serb tries to watch a game singing " Kill the Albanians" and then a drone appears out of nowhere and ruins everything.

"Serbian fans winned not Serbian players. This is UEFA racizem and nathing eles."
(Nebosha, 24 October 2014 12:30)

1. Learn some English.
2. It was just the opposite: Serbian team won (3 points), because Albanians refused to continue the match.
3. The behavior of violent Serbian fans and hooligans with attacks and fireworks thrown to the fields, together with insufficient security, caused the penalty of 3 points for Serbia.
4. Both teams were fined for 100.000, Serbia because of the things mentioned above, Albania because of the refusual to play and for displaying illegal banners (with political messages).
5. Serbian team must play next matches in Serbia in an empty stadium without violent fans.

To sum it: It's a good decision. And I hope the penalties will be even harder next time when those things happen again.

Article 1
"A football match can never be suspended unless one of the payers (at least) is dead on the football pitch"

Author: Mitchel Platini...ovic
(Altin Bejko, 24 October 2014 11:44)

Would you prefer:

Article 1: "Any team can decide to refuse to continue the game if they don't want to, no matter what the referee decides?" Silly.

they screamed "kill albanians",burnt the NATO flag,the albanian flag,threw fireworks,lighters,stones,even their own stewards beat the albanian players,fans fighting with stools against them.and still the winner is SERBIA.i am so ashame to be called a european .hypocrits that brawl no to racism. it is disgusting😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪

UEFA did the right thing awarding the 3-0 to Serbia: the only one who can decide if a game must be suspended is the referee. The referee tried to resume the game and the albanian players refused to go back on the pitch. My personal opinion is situation was not safe and i fully understand their fear, but again if the referee ask you to go back on the pitch you either play or forfait the game, the latter being the case.
Serbia's points deduction was a harsh punishment to me, i think it's the first time such a penalty is implemented (Russia was penalized 6 point after Euro 2012, but the sanction was suspended, so in the end no point deduction was applied), but i also think that only 2 games behind closed doors it's a very light sanction given the problems with serbian supporters behaviour in the past.

It could have been worse.. like Serbia actually winning the football game.

Still, Say No to Racism*

*unless you play in Serbia

They tried to be fair. I guess

As much as I disagree with this decision, I think it is fair. Albania should have gone back to the field and play soccer when the referee demanded. Whoever advised against going into the pitch made a fatal analytical error. Rather than trying to win three points in the table they should fought hard for it. Either way the hooligans would have been in the pitch within minutes and then the referee would have to halt the game.

Let this be a lesson for both countries and more important a lesson for the hooligans in Serbia that every time they go into self-destruct they damage their country and their national team reputation.

Both FA's should appeal the decision and demand that the game be re-played rather than automatically lose point. If both FA's had any brains they should both agree to re-play the game even in Serbia if they have too rather than lose automatically.

Cant we just watch a nice game of soccer rather than politicize everything. Hasn't Serbia had enough of its past. Where are the ordinary families that don't raise their voices against this type of racist behavior. There is no doubt in my mind that there are plenty of families in Serbia who are disgusted by how some of their countrymen are behaving in international and local matches. From what I can see a family man cant take their son our daughter to any soccer match in Serbia without being insulted. Is that acceptable to families in Serbia?

If you would have stopped half way through the post it would have been an excellent post as it actually placed the blame on both sides. Which is the only deduction possible. But then when you went off on the Albanian rant you ended up as just another racist Serbian bigot, who tossed in the neutral part to sound "politically correct"
(started good, ended horrible., 27 October 2014 10:34)

First of all, my anonymous friend, my post did not mean to sound neutral at all and being politically correct is the least of my concerns. Secondly, i do not place the blame on both sides. I place it totally on the albanian side and i'll explain why. The booing of anthems and the racist chants are things that happen in football fields. They shouldn't happen but they do. They happened when Serbia visited Zagreb to play against Croatia in the previous qualifier. So what if the Serbs booed your anthem and yelled "ubi siptara"? Don't tell me that they hurt your feelings or you didn't expect such an attitude. Your players could have just ignored the serbian provocations, beaten them in the field and now you would be half way through to the Euro 2016. The truth is that Albania has made considerable progress in football and this should be reflected with your partecipation in a major organization.But no, you had to do things the balkan way. Now Portugal and Denmark are laughing at your stupidity and all you have to say is accuse me of serbian bigotry instead of some self-criticism. Whatever.

I hope one day in the future Albania will have a striker as prolific as Tablovic xD

Serbian fans winned not Serbian players. This is UEFA racizem and nathing eles.

After this scandalous decision, as an Albanian, I really hope and pray that the return leg IS NOT played in Albania, or if it is, I hope it's behind closed doors as things could get ugly ! I thought I had seen it all, but obviously not, as this joke of a decision proves ! What next UEFA ? An apology maybe, from some of the Albanian players for almost breaking Serbian hooligans' chairs with their heads ?! You bunch of corrupt crooks.
Regardless of who we support, football has lost today, because today will be remembered as the day that UEFA set a dangerous precedent and legitimised violence,racism and lack of organisation and sportsmanship.

From the outside this decision seems fair. Both sides have been punished in a situation where it was clear to an impartial observer that there was blame on both sides. Serbian officials should have done more to control their fans and have been fined and have to play two matches behind closed doors. Neither side has gained any points and Albania have ended up with the number that they would probably have gained had the match finished; ie none. UEFA have clearly concluded that a) the drone emanated from Albanian sources and b) that the players were both physically and mentally OK to continue the match but chose not to do so. I have no way of knowing if they have reached the correct conclusion because I wasn't there although UEFA officials were, but as I said at the outset, the decision (and punishments) seem fair for the charges brought. As to whether or not the Serbian FA should have been charged with racism by their fans is open to debate. "Kill Albanians" is very unpleasant but is it racist or nationalist? England fans still sing the Dambusters theme when we play Germany; again, unpleasant but not racist. An amount of turning the other cheek needs to be employed here especially as it works both ways with home and away fixtures. ANY racism needs to be stamped out but we should not attribute this title to things that are not racist for fear of diluting our argument.

La Cosa Nostra runs UEFA.

An innocent serb tries to watch a game singing " Kill the Albanians" and then a drone appears out of nowhere and ruins everything.
(Mark, 24 October 2014 18:33)
===============================
What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.

@Leka i Madh: Are you sure that you heard well? I heard "Ubi, ubi Srbina", "Ko ne skace taj je Pravoslavac", "Ubi, zakolji da Srbin ne postoji" and "Ubi Srbina da Siptar nema brata". Most of all, I heard "Vucicu, pederu". I apologise if chanting "Vucicu, pederu" offended you.

OH Cool. So UEFA just gave the Albanian fans the OK to beat the sh.t out of the serbian players in the next game.

Good decision though Albania should have suffered a worse penalty and Serbia should be banned from having home games after repeated problems caused by its hooligans.

After today's decision, WEFA Disciplinary Regulation should change as follows:

Article 1
"A football match can never be suspended unless one of the payers (at least) is dead on the football pitch"

Author: Mitchel Platini...ovic

Article 1: "Any team can decide to refuse to continue the game if they don't want to, no matter what the referee decides?" Silly.
(Questioner, 24 October 2014 14:26)


Can they refuse to play if their life was in danger ? Or if they were not fitted to play because of wounds they got when they got attacked by huligans?

Serbian fans used slogans as "kill all Albanians". Just think about what would happend if let's say German fans shouted "kill the judes" in an match against Israel for example? It's racist and The game should have been stoped in The start by The referee as he is obligates to stop an match if racist slogans are used.

Uefa decided politically and that's sad.

People dont you see what happened here?! The decision is purely based to put borh Serbia and Albania in the back seat with the points. Ensure Denmark moves on and perhaps Portugal. EU at work!!!

As hard as this decision can be, I can understand UEFA's point: no one wants Serbian and Albanian fans in final tournament, with global visibility, if they behave this way. First official match ever which yields 0 points to each team. For Albanian fans this is even prejudicial, there is no evidence the flag was flown from them, but that's of no value for UEFA, what makes the decision even more absurd.

At this point it wuold have been more fair if UEFA had expelled both teams for the behaviour of their fans (those of Albania being absent in the stadium) instead of staging such an absurd comedy. The final standings in this group will be falsed anyway, so much for "Football, we care" being UEFA's motto. If teams fix matches, they are banned for life; if Uefa changes the standings that it's OK.

As a football lover and as a fan of the Albanian team, I can only regret this outcome. Albania was on the best way to bring home a postive result from Belgrade and head towards 5 or 7 points after 3 matches, being a serious candidate for the 2nd position in the death group of Euro qualifyiers. Now Danmark and Portugal are thru, Albania is still there for the 3rd place to dispute with Armenia the play off position, Serbia's chances are minimal playing in empty stadiums. I think I will no longer spend my money to follow the matches of this group.

This is a scandalous decision which rewards serbian racism and hooliganism

Does anyone paying attention what the news around the wolds are saying about the decision?!!!???VERY SAD....FOR EUROPEAN SPORT...

Ok, so both Albania and Serbia are screwed now.Albania is screwed because of the artificial goal differential now on their record and Serbia is screwed because they now get no points and they probably expected 3 at the table or in the field. Thing is, the game was 0-0 when it ended and most likely would have ended like that, so why come up with this stupid decision of +3 -3? This is solely to the benefit of Denmark and Portugal.It absolutely does nothing to the ranking of Albania vis-à-vis Serbia within the Group. If Albania and Serbia were smart, they would both lodge an appeal and demand that the fairest thing to do is re-play the game (if this is allowed). When the game is replayed in another country, they should just draw on purpose so that they each get 1 point & give the middle finger to UEFA + improve their chances vis-à-vis Denmark and Portugal. I said if they were _smart_!

Well what do you know. All it takes is a UEFA decision that puts Denmark and Portugal ahead of both Serbia and Albania to have both Serbs and Albanians to protest an unfair decision and claim it was an injustice for both sides.

Who would have thought something so simple would have brought two groups together so indirectly? I'm almost pleased an unpopular decision resulted in this collective disappointment!

So Denmark and Portugal have already qualified for Euro 2016 while the serbian and albanian commentators of b92 are stil at each others' throats on who's more racist and more nationalist than the other. Balkans' peoples fight each other and western europeans benefit from that. Nothing will ever change in the Balkans and we're worthy of our fate. By the way Albania really had a chance of qualifying after the away win in Portugal but they preferred drones, nationalistic flags with half the blakan peninsula belonging to Albania, and becoming heroes in the eyes of illeterate masses who are high on nationalism rather than winning on the field, participating in the Euro and making their country heard for something actually good for a change.

What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.
(Peggy, 26 October 2014 00:21)

You are right about the drone. It must have been planned and prepared before the game, but you are wrong to use this as an excuse for physically attacking the albanien players from the time they landed in Serbia till they left the country, and what you also ignore as well, is that it wasn't just simple chanting, they were screaming 'Death to Albaniens, Kill Albaniens' etc.... The attacks and the criminal racist behaviour started before the drone even appeared in the stadium, and not the other way around.
That was inexcusable, racist behaviour and can not be tolerated. Besides that, it violates UEFA's own rules and regulations. I am sure deep down inside you do not tolerate that as well, nobody can't. This is not directed against ordinary serbians, it is against serb hooligans, which as you remember, do have a real bad history. This is not the first time they are to blame for such behavior, and UEFA let them get away with it. That is the real scandal in this ruling.

What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.
(Peggy, 26 October 2014 00:21)

here is a link to a video which shows exactly what happened before, during and after the game. It is quite long and shows all the details. You hear the mob shouting, 'kill all the Albaniens, stab them, slaughter them until none of them is left', the mob going crazy well before the drone even appeared in the statium. Seeing the violence, it is clear that the game was ready to be ended before that drone ever came in the stadium.

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Post by Lindita Nikolla.

What is lost on most commentators here is that just because you are exposed to a provocation does not oblige you run berserk on a mindless rampage. After a provocation, it is still allowed to use whatever brains you have to select the smarter response option available.

Otherwise, the UEFA ruling is by and large fair. Serbia was penalized because of their "patriotic hooligans", as so many times before, and the Albanian team for not respecting the referee and the rules of the game, also not for the first time.

This decision favours Portugal and Denmark, and cripples both Albania and Serbia. While Balkan nations are on each other throats, clever European counterparts are laughing all the way home while taking advantage of Serbian and Albanian stupidities.

Great comment Srba! That's exactly the point!

There is absolutely no winner in this case. Serbia and Albania both lost. The real winners here are the rest of group I

Was racism in the stadium or not? Of course there were racism from Serbs hooligans, who made up almost three quarter of total fans. But there is no mention of racism at all by UEFA while they pretend they fight racism in stadiums. Doesn't look they are serious on this. On the other hand how you can charge Albanians for not returning to play. That doesn't make sense at all.

(thanasis, 26 October 2014 08:05)
If you would have stopped half way through the post it would have been an excellent post as it actually placed the blame on both sides. Which is the only deduction possible. But then when you went off on the Albanian rant you ended up as just another racist Serbian bigot, who tossed in the neutral part to sound "politically correct"

This decision makes no sense. You can't punish one team with game abandonment, and the other for creating the conditions for this abandonment. Ether one or the other , not both. I hope that nothing like that repeats itself in the return game.
No matter what team you support, justice was not done. It seems to me more like collective punishment. UEFA took the easy way out.

What that tells me is that the drone was prepared well before anyone knew about any chanting etc.
You came prepared to cuase trouble. Don't use the chanting as an excuse. Would the drone not have appeared if there was no chanting? Of course not.
(Peggy, 26 October 2014 00:21)

Obviously you did not watch the game at all. Kill Albanians and other slurs started when national anthem was being played, before game started. Once the game started after few minutes the flares started coming down in stadium. I thought you are a smart Aussie!?

I just think that unless they drone operator was found which i dont think they did) than make a decision on punishing the albanians team, Im sure an albanian did it! but hey, you never know! They did this like you punish kids get them both maybe they learn a lesson. I feel bad for both teams really... Why play f..it!