Serbian football association threatens withdrawal from Euro 2024 over inflammatory chants – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The head of the Serbian football association has threatened to withdraw the team from the European Championship over inflammatory chants during Wednesday’s match between Albania and Croatia.

Jovan Surbatovic, general secretary of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), has demanded action from authorities following the chant: “Kill, kill, kill the Serb.”

UEFA has initiated an investigation into the matter.

Surbatovic expressed the FSS’s demand for sanctions from UEFA. During an interview with Serbian broadcaster RTS, he stated that this would be pursued “even at the cost of not continuing the competition.”

UEFA, the governing body of European football, has confirmed a probe into potential racist and discriminatory conduct by supporters during the match. A statement from UEFA revealed that an ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to conduct the investigation.

According to a report by AFP, Serbian media has reported that Albanian Football Association (FSHF) player Mirlind Daku instigated obscene chants against Serbs and Macedonians. The Football Federation of Macedonia (FFM) condemned Daku’s behavior.

The FFM released a statement calling for Daku to publicly apologize. The statement described his actions as “nationalist chants” and mentioned that an official letter to UEFA regarding his “scandalous behavior” would follow.

In response to the backlash, Daku issued an apology via Facebook. “I feel a moral and professional obligation to do so, for all those who have been hurt,” he wrote, attributing his actions to the heat of the moment during the game.