Serbia threatens Euro 2024 exit over controversial chants
Despite the escalating tensions, Serbia's coach Dragan Stojkovic downplayed the issue after his team's 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
Serbia threatens Euro 2024 exit over controversial chants
The Serbian football association has issued a threat to withdraw its team from the Euro 2024 tournament following chants heard during the recent match between Albania and Croatia.
Jovan Surbatovic, the General Secretary of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), expressed strong dissatisfaction over the remarks made during the match, including the disturbing chant, “Kill, kill, kill the Serb.”
In an interview with Serbian broadcaster RTS, Surbatovic stressed that Serbia is demanding action from the authorities and warned that the FSS is prepared to seek sanctions from UEFA, even if it means pulling out of the competition.
Despite the escalating tensions, Serbia’s coach Dragan Stojkovic downplayed the issue after his team’s 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
Stojkovic emphasized that his focus remains on the game and urged reporters to direct their questions towards match-related matters.
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With a history of tense relations with both Albania and Croatia, Serbia’s participation in Euro 2024 is underscored by past conflicts in the region. The 1990s witnessed a series of wars across the former Yugoslavia, marked by bloody clashes and blamed on figures like late Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic.
As Serbia navigates its first European Championship post-Yugoslavia dissolution, the team’s potential exit threatens the tournament’s integrity and raises concerns over the impact of divisive chants on international sporting events.