Police out in force for championship game

A large number of police officers was deployed in Belgrade to provide security for the European Handball Championship semifinal game between Serbia and Croatia. The game ended with Serbia's victory. No incidents have been reported thus far. Police out in force for championship game Earlier in the day, Belgrade Police Administration chief Miladin Despotovic said that "several thousand police officers would secure the game": "We have engaged all units which are part of the Interior Ministry Directorate," he noted, and stressed that "in line with security estimates, the police have taken measures to make sure the games go by without incidents which marked recent matches in Novi Sad." Despotovic also stated that there was "excellent cooperation with its Croatian colleagues, and a joint checkpoint has been set up at the Batrovci border crossing". According to him, Croatian fans who are identified as hooligans would be sent back from the border. “Although the focus is on fans from Croatia, the police will take care of all fans who come to the Belgrade Arena to support their handball teams,” Despotovic added. Following Tuesday's match between Croatia and France at the 2012 EHF European Men's Handball Championship, Croatian fans were attacked in Novi Sad and Ruma, northern Serbia. A total of 13 persons were arrested on the occasion, while three persons are still at large. The Belgrade Arena on Friday evening (Tanjug) "No room for hooligans" Serbian Police Director Milorad Veljovic and Acting Croatian Police Director Drazen Vitez called on Serbian and Croatian fans to behave in a sportsmanlike manner at the semi-final match of the European Handball Championship in the Belgrade Arena, and underscored that there is no room for hooligans in Serbia's sports halls. In a statement for Tanjug, the two police directors agreed that it is in the interest of both Serbia and Croatia, their police services and sports for the match to pass in a peaceful and orderly manner, and they sent a message to participants in the match that there should be no room for politics under the roof of the Belgrade Arena. Veljovic and Vitez also said that both teams' players should feel safe, and expressed expectation that the event would be marked by a high security level and that it would serve as an example of sportsmanlike attitude and good neighborly relations. Let us be together and cheer, let the best team win, and we will continue to deepen our relations and the two countries' police cooperation, Veljovic stated. Veljovic expressed wish for the handball match to pass in a dignified manner, without any political interference and that Croatian fans would feel safe in Belgrade just as they would in Croatia and Zagreb. Vitez agreed with this point and expressed gratitude for the welcome. He also recalled the great importance of cooperation between the two police services which have so far worked well together in a number of actions. According to Vitez, Croatia's cooperation with its fans is running smoothly. The fans listened to our advice, they reported to the police services of both Serbia and Croatia, Vitez said and expressed expectation that they would be escorted to the Arena safely. There are enough police officers, he noted and said he hopes everything will pass smoothly. I believe sportsmanlike spirit will win, and that the better team would claim victory, Vitez said and added that fans should fight their teams and that hooliganism brings no good to either athletes or the countries they represent. Tanjug

Police out in force for championship game

Earlier in the day, Belgrade Police Administration chief Miladin Despotović said that "several thousand police officers would secure the game":

"We have engaged all units which are part of the Interior Ministry Directorate," he noted, and stressed that "in line with security estimates, the police have taken measures to make sure the games go by without incidents which marked recent matches in Novi Sad."

Despotović also stated that there was "excellent cooperation with its Croatian colleagues, and a joint checkpoint has been set up at the Batrovci border crossing".

According to him, Croatian fans who are identified as hooligans would be sent back from the border.

“Although the focus is on fans from Croatia, the police will take care of all fans who come to the Belgrade Arena to support their handball teams,” Despotović added.

Following Tuesday's match between Croatia and France at the 2012 EHF European Men's Handball Championship, Croatian fans were attacked in Novi Sad and Ruma, northern Serbia.

A total of 13 persons were arrested on the occasion, while three persons are still at large.

"No room for hooligans"

Serbian Police Director Milorad Veljović and Acting Croatian Police Director Drazen Vitez called on Serbian and Croatian fans to behave in a sportsmanlike manner at the semi-final match of the European Handball Championship in the Belgrade Arena, and underscored that there is no room for hooligans in Serbia's sports halls.

In a statement for Tanjug, the two police directors agreed that it is in the interest of both Serbia and Croatia, their police services and sports for the match to pass in a peaceful and orderly manner, and they sent a message to participants in the match that there should be no room for politics under the roof of the Belgrade Arena.

Veljović and Vitez also said that both teams' players should feel safe, and expressed expectation that the event would be marked by a high security level and that it would serve as an example of sportsmanlike attitude and good neighborly relations.

Let us be together and cheer, let the best team win, and we will continue to deepen our relations and the two countries' police cooperation, Veljović stated.

Veljović expressed wish for the handball match to pass in a dignified manner, without any political interference and that Croatian fans would feel safe in Belgrade just as they would in Croatia and Zagreb.

Vitez agreed with this point and expressed gratitude for the welcome. He also recalled the great importance of cooperation between the two police services which have so far worked well together in a number of actions.

According to Vitez, Croatia's cooperation with its fans is running smoothly.

The fans listened to our advice, they reported to the police services of both Serbia and Croatia, Vitez said and expressed expectation that they would be escorted to the Arena safely. There are enough police officers, he noted and said he hopes everything will pass smoothly.

I believe sportsmanlike spirit will win, and that the better team would claim victory, Vitez said and added that fans should fight their teams and that hooliganism brings no good to either athletes or the countries they represent.