President hears warning about hooligans

UEFA President Michel Platini told Serbian President Boris Tadic that Serbian clubs and the national team could be excluded from all European competitions. This would hapspen if the violent and criminal behavior of Serbian fans continues. President hears warning about hooligans Platini conveyed this stand of UEFA at a meeting with the Serbian president in Belgrade. Tadic said during the meeting with Platini that Serbia is determined to solve the problem of hooliganism and that it will not permit a repetition of the incidents from Italy, or for the Serbian team or sports clubs to be punished or removed from European and world competitions, stated the president's press service. Tadic said that Serbia is aware that it has a problem with hooligans and that it is prepared to "definitely solve this problem," as well as that a difference must be made between the hooligans who, in his words, are a minority and the fans, who are the vast majority in Serbia. "No need for warnings" Serbian Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic said Friday that Serbia does not need "anyone from abroad" warning it that violence has to be rooted out not only in sport, but also in the society in general. Commenting the statement by UEFA President Michel Platini that the Serbian clubs and its national team will be banned from all European competitions if hooligans continue to stage violent incidents, Dacic told journalists in the Palace of Serbia that violence is a problem of well-developed countries as well, and underlined that all state structures should be engaged in combating the problem. Dacic said that the responsibility for violence should also be laid on politicians and other public officials, while those who commit violence are often just marionettes. He added that such outbursts of intolerance are a problem of the entire society, not just the police. "Police is ready to fulfill its part of the work and it will continue to fight violence and extremism," Dacic said.

President hears warning about hooligans

Platini conveyed this stand of UEFA at a meeting with the Serbian president in Belgrade.

Tadić said during the meeting with Platini that Serbia is determined to solve the problem of hooliganism and that it will not permit a repetition of the incidents from Italy, or for the Serbian team or sports clubs to be punished or removed from European and world competitions, stated the president's press service.

Tadić said that Serbia is aware that it has a problem with hooligans and that it is prepared to "definitely solve this problem," as well as that a difference must be made between the hooligans who, in his words, are a minority and the fans, who are the vast majority in Serbia.

"No need for warnings"

Serbian Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dačić said Friday that Serbia does not need "anyone from abroad" warning it that violence has to be rooted out not only in sport, but also in the society in general.

Commenting the statement by UEFA President Michel Platini that the Serbian clubs and its national team will be banned from all European competitions if hooligans continue to stage violent incidents, Dačić told journalists in the Palace of Serbia that violence is a problem of well-developed countries as well, and underlined that all state structures should be engaged in combating the problem.

Dačić said that the responsibility for violence should also be laid on politicians and other public officials, while those who commit violence are often just marionettes.

He added that such outbursts of intolerance are a problem of the entire society, not just the police.

"Police is ready to fulfill its part of the work and it will continue to fight violence and extremism," Dačić said.