After the Serbian Football Association accused Albania's national team of a planned terrorist action and blamed the squad's players for refusing to restart Tuesday's abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier, the Albanian Football Association hit back on Thursday with a scathing, detailed statement.
Referee Martin Atkinson called off the match after a drone carrying the insignia of Greater Albania flew over the pitch at Partizan Stadium, sparking a brawl between members of both teams and leading to Serbian supporters invading the pitch and attacking Albanian players.
UEFA has since charged both the Serbian FA and the Albanian FA. However, the Albanian FA's statement paints a grim picture of the treatment they received in Belgrade, as they were allegedly subject to violent attacks before and after the abandoned match by Serbian fans, event security personnel, and the police.
"Making our way to the stadium the Albania side's bus was hit with stones thrown by Serbian fans," the statement reads. "Before the team warm-up, a part of the Albanian delegation led by the AFA president, Mr. Armando Duka, was hit with a piece of concrete which was received as evidence by the UEFA delegate present."
The Albanian FA statement continues:
Each time the team or a member of the team appeared on the pitch, the atmosphere became extremely hostile and aggressive on the part of Serbia supporters. At the end of warm-up Albanian players were hit by a shower of coins, lighters and other objects thrown at them as they were making their way to the tunnel that takes players inside.
For the entire duration of warm-ups before the game, the offensive chants of 30,000 strong repeated 'Kill the Albanians" and "Death to Albanians." Tens of Serbian supporters went over the lateral fence at the left side and were not apprehended by police for the entire duration of the minutes played.
While the statement makes no mention of the drone that triggered the melee, it goes on to list the violent tactics that the Albanian team was subjected to after fleeing the pitch:
Civilians entered the pitch causing a melee, punching Albania players and hitting them with stools. Furthermore, our players were also hit by stewards and security personnel serving at the game.
Making their way to the dressing rooms, in the tunnel, Albania players were repeatedly hit by Serbia supporters, security personnel and the police.
Also, before the Albanian players were allowed to leave the stadium, with orders from Belgrade prosecutor general (according to the police) the entire staff and players of the Albania national side were physically searched. Police went through each member’s and player’s personal belongings.
The AFA is of the opinion that the above mentioned actions negatively impacted the normal conduct of the match, which was ultimately abandoned.
Serbia and Albania have a fractured relationship revolving primarily around Serbia's former providence of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 and which contains a majority-Albanian population.
