Serbs Invited to 'Risky' Football Match in Albania

A group of 70 Serbian students will support the Serbian football team during the game in Elbasan, which is widely seen as a risky event after a match between the two teams in Belgrade ended in a brawl last year.

The Albanian football association announced on October 1 that the Serbian students had been invited to Elbasan by their Albanian colleagues.  

Albanian football supporters were banned from attending the match in Belgrade and it was initally announced that Serbian fans would not be allowed to watch the game in Albania.

However, that decision has been changed.

The Albanian Football Association said that as the Albanian police had marked the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match as a high-risk event, the police will use heavy security during the game.

Albanian media reported earlier that the police would even engage snipers to prevent any incidents.

However, the Belgrade-based sports journalist Dejan Andjus told BIRN there was no reason to expect trouble.

"I expect nothing to happen. There is no reason for it, this is a sporting event, nothing else. The game is also practically without sporting significance because everything was already solved in our qualifying group," Andjus said.

The first match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade last October ended in mayhem when a small drone with a banner embossed with Albanian motifs flew over the pitch.

Serbian fans then invaded the pitch and also threw torches and lighters at the Albanian players as they left the field. Several Albanian players were struck by the hooligans who had invaded the pitch.

Following an investigation, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body penalised the Football Association of Serbia with a three-point deduction in the current...