Euro qualifier match abandoned after drone stunt sparks mass brawl

A Euro 2016 qualifying match between Serbia and Albania had to be stopped after a fight broke out when a drone was flown over the pitch carrying a flag. A brawl erupted on the playing surface between players and some officials when one of the Serbian players caught the flag which featured Albanian symbols. British referee Martin Atkinson was forced to suspend play in the game in Belgrade in the 41st minute as the unrest spread.

On behalf of my team, all I can say is that we wanted to carry on and that we shielded the Albanian players every step of the way to the tunnel (after the riot broke out).

Serbia captain Branislav Ivanovic

As the fighting continued on the pitch, Serbian fans who had already clashed with riot police after burning a NATO flag, began hurling smoke bombs and other objects. At one point, some of the players were hit by a plastic stool brought on to the pitch by a fan. The Albanian players ended up having to retreat into the tunnel after a hail of objects rained down on them. Earlier, the Group I tie had only been allowed to go ahead if no Albanian fans were allowed in the ground. Relations between Albania and Serbia have been fraught since the civil war fought over the former Yugoslav region of Kosovo, which is made up mostly of ethnic Albanians but was claimed by the Serb state. The flag flying from the drone featured an image of so-called Greater Albania, a part of the Balkans where a substantial proportion of the population are Albanian.

I saw my players being attacked and hit even inside the tunnel, and even by the stewards. We were not in the right psychological or physical state to continue playing.

Albania captain Lorik Cana

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