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Italy-Serbia abandoned amid crowd violence

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-14 07:58

A supporter of Serbia's soccer team holds a lit flare before the team's Euro 2012 qualifying match against Italy at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa on Tuesday. Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters

GENOA, Italy - Italy's Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia was abandoned on Tuesday with six minutes played after visiting fans threw flares on to the pitch and at rival supporters in a new bout of Serbian soccer violence.

Serbia fans had already thrown a flare on to their own team bus and abused goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, who subsequently pulled out of the team before kickoff, in an attack Serbian media reports said was related to domestic club rivalry.

European soccer's governing body, UEFA, will now decide what action to take, with a 3-0 win awarded to group leader Italy the most likely scenario and further punishments possible for Serbia.

"We will not ask for anything. It's up to the UEFA delegate to talk with UEFA to decide what to do," Italian soccer federation vice president and former Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini told Reuters.

After the match, a massive police operation designed to keep Serbian fans away from the city center appeared successful, according to Reuters witnesses.

However, Italian media reported that 13 people were injured in clashes between police and Serbian fans who were kept in a fenced off area in the stadium car park.

Kickoff in the Group C match was delayed for 35 minutes due to crowd trouble and only six minutes had been played when two flares were thrown on to the pitch and the match was suspended.

Serbian FA president Tomislav Karadzic told Belgrade's B92 television the incidents were shameful.

"The whole of Europe saw the disgrace and shame brought upon Serbia by fans who have kept us under siege in our hotel for two days," he said.

One flare was aimed toward Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano before Serbian fans then threw another into the Italian end which hit some supporters without causing serious injury.

Scottish referee Craig Thomson took the players off the pitch and the game was eventually abandoned after discussions between all parties.

"It's a great disappointment, there's great bitterness," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told a news conference.

"The ground was full of children with so much enthusiasm."

Prandelli said a perplexed Stojkovic had been inside Italy's dressing room before kickoff to explain his withdrawal and seek sanctuary.

"According to the Serbians we have spoken to, the aim of the Serbian fans was to stop the match," he said.

Serbian media said the attack on Stojkovic had apparently been part of a coordinated campaign.

Stojkovic, a former Red Star player, has been targeted by his former club's fans since he joined city rival Partizan on loan.

Reuters