Serbia in trouble with FIFA – The match against Albania on October 11th could be played without fans
Express newspaper
12/09/2025 14:10
An ugly episode during the Serbia-England match at “Rajko Mitic” could cost Serbian football dearly.
According to media in Belgrade, FIFA is expected to open disciplinary proceedings against the Serbian Football Federation, risking the stadium being closed for the next match – against Albania, on October 11, a match that has been described as the final one for the fate of the qualifiers.
Incidents in the match against England
It all happened in the 38th minute of the game, when French referee Clement Turpin stopped the match due to the behavior of the home fans. Some of them had used lasers in the direction of English footballer Ezri Konsa, an act strictly prohibited by international regulations.
But it wasn’t just the laser that was the problem. Nationalist symbols also appeared on the steps of the “Marakana”, including maps of Kosovo with the Serbian flag, as well as the well-known chants “Kosovo is Serbia”, which have often been condemned by international football institutions.
FIFA ready to punish Serbia
After this episode, Serbian media have raised the alarm: the risk of FIFA severely punishing Serbia is real. The most likely sanction is the closure of the stadium for the next match, which means that the decisive duel against Albania on October 11 could be played without an audience.
Recall that the Serbian Federation was already under scrutiny by FIFA after nationalist chants during the match against Andorra in Leskovac. For this reason, 15% of the stadium’s capacity was closed for the match against England, reducing the number of fans from 48 to around 40.
A repeated story
In the last five years, the Serbian Federation has paid over 700 thousand euros in fines for such incidents, and according to local media, the total amount is expected to exceed 1 million euros by the end of 2025.
A possible advantage for Albania
Such a punishment would be good news for the Red and Black National Team, which is aiming for qualification and sees the October 11 match as a true final.
The absence of Serbian fans would create a less hostile atmosphere for Albania’s players in Belgrade, giving Sylvinho’s team a considerable psychological advantage. /GazetaExpress/