To hear the Western media tell it, the sight of an Albanian flag sent Serbs into paroxysms of rage at a soccer (football, in the non-US world) match with Albania yesterday, and the game was called off amid the riot.
Here is what actually happened: a drone (!) with a banner depicting the Nazi-allied "Greater Albania" flew onto the pitch. The British referee halted the game. A Serbian player grabbed the banner and began to fold it, whereupon the Albanian players attacked him. Outraged Serbian fans began throwing objects onto the pitch. Both the Serbian players and the police then shielded the Albanians and escorted them off the field until the disruption was sorted out. After the Albanians refused every reasonable offer to continue or reschedule the match, the game was abandoned.
The Serbian Football Association (FSS) has issued an official statement explaining the events:
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| Serbian player Stefan Mitrović calmly folding the Greater Albania banner, flown by a drone during last night's Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade (photo: mondo.rs) |
The Serbian Football Association (FSS) has issued an official statement explaining the events:
