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Alarm Before the Match in Belgrade
Having observed England fans over the years, I have witnessed violence at football matches more than once. This Time it is particularly concerning as the World Cup qualifier against Serbia will take place in Belgrade. Memories of flares and clashes with police have left deep impressions.
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The situation is complicated by the active involvement of ultras who have close ties to Serbian authorities. British police classify tomorrow’s match as ‘high risk’. In the summer, during the European Championships, we faced violence when about 500 Serbian ultras clashed with England fans.
Now we hope that 2,500 English fans will not face serious pressure, as there could be up to 20,000 Serbs at the match. The atmosphere at the stadium promises to be tense, with smoke from flares and the shouts of fans.
Match Dangers
England’s stars, led by Harry Kane, will have to pass through one of the longest and most terrifying tunnels in world football, measuring 240 meters, designed for player safety. Ultras maintain their patriotic sentiments, sometimes accompanied by racism, which has already led to partial bans at matches.
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This could provoke serious problems, and in the event of racist chants or violence, black players may stop the game.
Violence Among Ultras in Football
Ultras groups are known for their aggression at football matches. Not long ago, it became known that they organize fierce fights in the forests of Europe to avoid police.
At Euro 2016, Russian ultras attacked English fans, leaving more than 100 injured.
Serbian ultras have gained a sinister reputation associated with violence. The most acute clashes occur during the derby between Red Star and Partizan. Although this match will just be another of many, it could become tense due to the active involvement of ultras.
Safety Plan for Fans
British police are developing safety measures in collaboration with Serbian law enforcement. Fans are advised to stay in safe zones and use buses to the stadium under police escort. Alcohol will not be allowed either at the stadium or near it.
Superintendent Parkin stated: “This is a high-risk match, but local police are confident in their ability to ensure safety.” Fans who have had issues in the past will not be able to attend this match.
Monitoring behavior and adherence to safety will determine the success of the measures. We hope everything goes smoothly in the next 48 hours.