New Delhi: The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has imposed sanctions on Serbia’s soccer federation following multiple incidents of racist and discriminatory behavior by its fans during Nations League matches last month. The punishments come at a critical time, as Serbia and Albania are set to face each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as has just been revealed in the qualifying draw that took place earlier today, and prepare to co-host the Under-21 European Championship in 2027.
The controversy began during Serbia’s match against Switzerland on November 15, where visiting fans attempted to burn an Albanian flag in a stadium that featured Swiss players with Albanian or Kosovo heritage, such as captain Granit Xhaka. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move Serbia has not recognized, while Albania also declared independence from Serbia, adding a layer of political tension to such encounters.
UEFA cited “racist and/or discriminatory behavior” by Serbian fans in both the Switzerland game and a subsequent home match against Denmark on November 18. Other offenses included the display of illicit banners. This isn’t the first time that the governing body for European football, UEFA, has had to levy penalties on the Serbian Football Federation, with similar punishments having been laid earlier as well.
Heavy Sanctions and Financial Penalties
🇷🇸 UEFA has fined Serbia €173,000 for incidents during matches against Switzerland and Denmark.
For the match agaisnt 🇨🇭:
– €50,000 fine and a ban on selling tickets for the next two matches due to racist and xenophobic chants by fans
– €25,000 fine for displaying…
— kos_data (@kos_data) December 11, 2024
In response, UEFA has handed Serbia’s soccer federation a series of sanctions. The federation is banned from selling tickets to fans for its next two away matches in UEFA competitions and must close parts of its home stadium for two games. These measures will take effect in March 2024, starting with Serbia’s Nations League promotion playoff against Austria. Additionally, Serbia’s federation was fined a total of €173,000 ($181,000), with €90,000 ($94,000) specifically for discriminatory conduct.
UEFA has warned Serbia previously about fan misconduct, with incidents recorded during Euro 2024 in Germany and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The spotlight now turns to the upcoming Serbia-Albania World Cup qualifying fixtures, the first meetings between the two nations since their infamous Euro 2016 qualifier. That game, held in Belgrade in 2014, was abandoned after a drone carrying an Albanian nationalist banner incited chaos on the field.
Despite these challenges, UEFA is set to confirm Serbia and Albania as co-hosts of the 2027 Under-21 European Championship, an event that will likely require heightened security and diplomatic efforts to ensure smooth proceedings. As tensions persist, Serbia’s soccer federation faces mounting pressure to address fan behavior and prevent further sanctions that could jeopardize its international reputation.
The punishments come at a critical time, as Serbia and Albania are set to face each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and prepare to co-host the Under-21 European Championship in 2027. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
