Serbia has threatened to withdraw from Euro 2024 if UEFA does not address alleged offensive chanting from Croatian and Albanian fans, which occurred during a 2-2 draw between Croatia and Albania in Hamburg. The Serbian FA issued a strong statement condemning the behavior and demanding action from UEFA, with potential consequences for England’s group in the tournament.
The Serbian FA’s General Secretary, Jovan Surbatovic, expressed outrage, stating, “What happened is scandalous, and we will ask UEFA for sanctions, even at the cost of not continuing the competition.” He added that the Serbian FA is confident UEFA will punish the offending parties, noting that UEFA has already responded to their appeal by removing an Albanian journalist from the championship.
Surbatovic emphasized that Serbia’s participation in Euro 2024 hinges on UEFA’s response, saying, “We will request UEFA to punish the federations of both selections. We don’t want to participate in that, but if UEFA doesn’t punish them, we will think about how to proceed.” He also noted that Serbia had faced penalties for fan misconduct in the past, asserting, “We Serbs are gentlemen and we have an open heart, so I appeal to the fans to remain gentlemen.”
Serbia, which lost 1-0 to England in their opening match and is set to face Slovenia in Munich, could see their opponents, Slovenia and Denmark, awarded 3-0 wins if Serbia follows through on its withdrawal threat. This could significantly impact the dynamics of Group B.
UEFA has yet to formally acknowledge the alleged chanting, but has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Serbian FA following incidents during the Serbia vs. England match. Charges include the throwing of objects and transmitting provocative messages unfit for a sports event. A UEFA statement confirmed that the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) will decide on the matter, with a separate investigation ongoing regarding alleged discriminatory behavior.
Serbia’s withdrawal threat adds a layer of complexity and tension to Euro 2024, highlighting the serious nature of fan conduct and its potential repercussions on the tournament.
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