Euro 2024 Scandal: Serbia threatens to pull out

Serbia has threatened to withdraw from the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament following allegations that Croatian and Albanian fans shouted offensive chants during a match. The accusations stem from Croatia’s 2-2 draw with Albania on Wednesday in Group B, where Serbian officials claim fans from both nations chanted “kill, kill, kill the Serb” during the 59th minute of the game.

Jovan Surbatovic, General Secretary of the Football Association of Serbia, has formally requested UEFA to impose sanctions on both Croatia and Albania for the alleged behavior of their supporters. Surbatovic emphasized that Serbia is prepared to exit the competition if no action is taken.

“What happened is scandalous and we will ask UEFA for sanctions, even if it means not continuing the competition,” Surbatovic stated, as reported by RTS. He expressed confidence that UEFA will respond to their demands, citing a previous instance where an Albanian journalist was removed from the championship following Serbia’s appeal.

Surbatovic further insisted on penalties for both national football federations, highlighting Serbia’s unwillingness to participate in a tournament where such incidents occur without repercussions. “We will demand from UEFA to punish the federations of both selections [Croatia and Albania]. We do not want to participate in that, but if UEFA does not punish them, we will think how will we proceed,” he added.

The incident has sparked significant controversy and highlights ongoing tensions in the Balkans, potentially impacting the integrity of Euro 2024. The football community now awaits UEFA’s response to Serbia’s demands.