UEFA sanctions Serbia for fans’ attempt to burn Albanian flag; teams meet in 2026 WC qualifiers
Lars Foster
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Tensions between Serbia and Albania have been strained for years, but UEFA seems unwilling to address the issue comprehensively, opting instead for minor sanctions.
Details: During a Nations League match against Switzerland in Zurich, Balkan fans attempted to burn an Albanian flag. UEFA deemed this "discriminatory behavior" and, according to Associated Press, sanctioned the Serbian Football Federation with two home games behind closed doors and two away matches with banned guest sections.
In addition to the fan bans, which take effect in March when Serbia faces Austria in the Nations League playoffs, the Serbian federation has been fined a total of €263,000.
Reminder: Serbia and Albania last faced each other during Euro 2016 qualifiers, with their game in Belgrade descending into chaos after a drone carrying a "Greater Albania" banner caused a brawl among players. The match was abandoned, and Serbia was handed a technical defeat.
The two nations will also meet during World Cup 2026 qualifiers, having been drawn into the same group.
