Decoding Sports Hooliganism In Balkans

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche considered several approaches to history. One of them he called “the antique approach”, which could, in layman’s terms, be described as having the impression of one’s nation’s past as something to be worshipped, something holy and immune to critical reasoning.

Historical and political complexity of the Balkan peninsula, coupled with the collective mentality very much prone to this way of thinking – sometimes devoid of self-criticism and deprived of a sense of continuity and self-perseverance – makes very little room for sporting events without severe escalations.

Forgive the lengthy rant; it is, however, vital to bear it in mind when considering the problematique of regional relations among Balkan nations. While politicians may or may not slip up thinly veiled antagonisms in their public speeches, one could sadly argue that ultra-fans’ and hooligans’ outlook on other, neighboring people may be a real state of affairs, a collective truth “on steroids” of sorts. Fueled by historical misfortunes, divided nations still fail to find any common ground and instead dwell on their differences – ethnic and religious.

“Identity As a Weapon”

‘The state just doesn't have the strength to fight hooligans.’

- Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in an interview with Insider.net, May 2016.

Serbia remains the lone country in the Balkans where soccer violence reigns free. Unopposed by the state that openly admits no radical measures are in store for hooligans, their reign of terror has escalated to a frightening degree.

In Serbia, fascination with sports and the almost fanatical support it receives are somewhat unique in the world. While not indigenous to this small country in Eastern Europe, its brand of hooliganism is firmly intertwined with politics and crime, even though hooligans make up a minority of the country’s benevolent sporting fan population.

Controversies surrounding organized soccer violence are numerous, but despite public outcry, the officials - with the exception of several carefully crafted statements to the press announcing fire and brimstone for the perpetrators - remain conspicuously aloof.

State Hooligans

We can argue that sports, and especially soccer extremist fans, have been there since the very beginning of the modern-day, internationally-oriented, competitive sport, but the real state of affairs is not that simple when hooliganism is concerned. A stadium spectacle that precedes every major match and event, is not the same as a disruptive and violent horde that pillage, burn and sack a city for apparently no plausible reason.

The beginning of trouble can be traced back to 1980s when several small-scale, isolated incidents took place, however the real football fanaticism in its most deviant form, began brewing during, and right after the end of the Yugoslav wars - between 1990's and early 2000's.

Some say that the beginning of ethnic conflicts to break up Yugoslavia can be tracked back to a would-be match between Zagreb’s Dinamo and Belgrade’s Red Star. On May 13th, 1990, a series of incidents occurred during the derby, between Serbian and Croatian fans, that later were characterized as reflective of the current socio-political climate, as a culmination of the long-suppressed nation-wide distress. Others claimed that the Maximir Stadium riots have been orchestrated by the powers that were, in order to bring about the independence of the six socialist republics.

It was during this difficult period, that the idea to use hooligans for political means, first planted by Zeljko Raznatovic Arkan - ripened in the public consciousness, forming a notion of hooligans as fervent protectors and promoters of Serbian national and religious identities that are so firmly intertwined.

Highly controversial political, military and criminal figure in Yugoslavia, Arkan was eventually appointed as the head of FK Obilic - one of two largest and best-known soccer clubs in the country, although rumors had it that he was also off the record leader of the FK Red Star infamous fans - Delije. It was from these small circles that he eventually started recruiting for the central part of his paramilitary unit - the Serb Volunteer Guard ''Tigers''.

This implied connection between the state and soccer fanatics, who are covertly working for the state making this calling their actual career, is still a burning subject in the country, and is believed in by the majority of the public in Serbia. The fact that fanatics groups and organizations draft mainly from the lowest social classes - the unemployed, illiterate or low-schooled, aggressively nationalistic, ultra-right wing males between 20 and 30 years of age, is quite telling. In an absurd situation stemming from the incompetence of the leading few, an ordinary citizen becomes a hostage of the hooligan minority who continue to terrorize the common man.

Under the guise of fighting against the so-called ‘’western values’’ that corrupt the Serbian national identity, certain extremist groups, masquerading as hooligans, expand their influence outside the realm of sports - they are now ‘patriots’ at the forefront of major political and other events of interest to the state, the country's abandoned children clawing at the ceiling on their margin of society.

Their leaders are known members of certain social and nationalistic groups, often seen demonstrating support for Serbian indicted war criminals General Ratko Mladic the Butcher of Bosnia, and former President of Republika Srpska Radovan Karadzic, sentenced to 40 years in prison for the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing during the Bosnian War.

Red Star (Crvena Zvezda) and Partizan are two leading clubs in Serbia, supported by ‘Delije’ and ‘Grobari’ respectively, with numerous subgroups and divisions emerging in recent years: Alcatraz, Ultra Boys, Hyenas, Belgrade Boys, Head Hunters and many others, each led by shady individuals who have by rule served jail time, boast colorful criminal records and are trailed by a long list of pending court cases for robberies, murders and other crimes.

Why?

Hooliganism of such vast proportions is certainly a complicated phenomenon that cannot be so easily deconstructed, but the root of it all is still glaringly obvious. Difficult socioeconomic and political circumstances, and the subsequent large-scale unemployment gave birth to a futureless, jobless and hopeless generation of young people desperately seeking a purpose in their lives.

It is the unfortunate, yet undeniable truth that impoverished Serbian youth is consciously seeking these extremist groups to give them this purpose, and the groups, backed by various hidden, underground currents, gladly respond. No wonder then, that so many misguided teens, along with bottom-feeders, thieves, sociopaths and wannabe-criminals who have no place in the upper echelons of society, find refuge in the organized soccer violence, believing or merely pretending to believe they are acting solely in the best interest of the state, and for the well-being of the nation according to the moral and ethical principles uprooted by some very conservative, traditionalist denominations of the Serbian Orthodox Church, so that their actions are becoming almost ritualistic in nature.

Because their ideology closely resembles, or is perfectly compatible with, the beliefs of various ultra and alt-right groups and political parties in Serbia, they are often found collaborating, and formally and practically supporting each other's cause. This provides a suitable cover for what is, in reality, an extremist, anti-democratic, discriminatory, xenophobic, oppressive and racist organization using violence and riots to push what they call “the voice and will of the people”, which is to imply they represent the mainstream public opinion in the country.

In the system that continually fails to punish such acts of violence, the perpetrators are free to lobby for their own backwards agenda using whatever means necessary - the more outrageous the better.

It is well-known that Red Star and Partizan fanatical nationalists and hooligans have been given many more privileges and roles than common sense would dictate. It used to be enough to have the highly emotionally-charged matches feed the little man's delusions of grandeur and importance, of having an active and crucial role in actual sports events, and perhaps more importantly - the outcome of those matches.

Now, this source has been exhausted and their addiction demands more. The ridiculousness of this situation is highlighted in the fact that clubs - owners, CEOs and players - are officially collaborating with hooligans, presenting to the public a mutually friendly and supportive relationship they have so carefully nurtured in fear of being stalked, beaten and robbed of their property in public spaces, parking lots and their own homes while the government pretends to not see the elephant in the room.

In 2009, the same year Brice Taton was killed, after it came to public attention that Red Star supporters were having conditioning workouts at Marakana (Rajko Mitic Stadium) with the help of the Red Star coach himself, he gave a press statement saying that ''it is important for the Red Star that its fans are in good shape''.

Major Incidents

Brice Taton, a Frenchman, came to Serbia in September 2009, to support Toulouse FC in a Europa League match against Belgrade's Partizan FC on September 17. He was confronted in a pub in downtown Belgrade by a group of ultra Partizan supporters, savagely beaten and allegedly thrown of a ledge, and died of his injuries on September 29th of the same year. According to the official police statement regarding the incident, Taton, who was 28 years old at the time of his death, wore no insignias of his club and did nothing to provoke the rage of over 30 Belgrade hooligans.

At least something good came out of this unfortunate event - which coupled with the infamously poor and inadequate way the Serbian court handled this case - casts the light of truth on the turbulent state of organized sports violence in Serbia.

This is not the only incident of this nature in the country. Two years before, in December 2007, a 19 years old Red Star fan was charged and sentenced to 10 years in prison, for the attempted murder of a plain-clothes police officer, who he tried to set on fire by shoving a lit torch down his throat.

In 2010, in the aftermath of the Pride parade, hooligans at the Serbia–Italy UEFA game in Genoa, armed with torches, knives, saws and metal poles broke the protective fence, poured onto the stadium shouting nationalistic slogans and burning the official Albanian flag. Vladimir Stojkovic,the goal-keeper, was attacked by furious mob of hooligans in his team’s bus, and only pulled through thanks to his team mates Dejan Stankovic and Nikola Zigic.

The match was cancelled in the sixth minute due to the ensuing riots. Amidst speculations that this was a paid incident, Italian and Serbian public had a chance to see the tattooed likeness of the leader of the fans, Ivan Bogdanov of Ultra Boys, also known as La Bestie who proclaimed his feud was not with Italy, but with his team and the Serbian Football Association. This incident highlighted the fact that Serbia was unable, unwilling, or powerless to deal with hooligans and snuff out the spark of riots the moment it lights up.

Currently the issue of hooliganism is largely being ignored in Serbia by all relevant institutions. As Aleksandar Vucic, former Prime Minister and now President of the state admitted, Serbia lacks the strength needed to battle hooligans because no consensus can be reached in this matter. Politicians and public figures regularly avoid any answers or even discussions about organized violence. Only academic and media debates remain to tackle the issue and bring awareness to the larger-than-life hooligans who have apparently scared the state into submission.

Hooliganism In Croatia

Serbia’s neighboring country to the west is also no stranger to hooliganism in soccer. In fact, Croatia has caught the eye of international media on multiple accounts, due to its long-standing divisions between fans and the national federation, famous for corruption and ties to the country’s soccer mafia.

Exposing the ugly truth behind perennial rivalries among different fractions in the country has a long and disgraceful history of violence, fighting, racism and use of fireworks, often leading to terrorism and death outcome.

Although there is no excuse for hooliganism, as well as for breaking the law, taking a look into the past can provide a ton of reasons for the uprise of outraged society and vandals, whose use of soccer and hoodies represents a paradigm for achieving personal gains.

Perhaps the biggest predicament for explosive outbursts of anger and violence among soccer hooligans in Croatia draws its roots from the Civil War and breakup of Yugoslavia during the early 1990s. Beneath the long-standing quagmire there is a history of demonstrated hatred, nationalism, and political impotence which is a recipe for terrorism on almost all fronts, especially in sports .

Be that as it may, it seems that the everlasting hostilities among the supporters of football clubs in a once war-torn country never actually ceased... only switched targets. In other words, rivalries between Serbian leading soccer teams Red Star and Partizan have always been an eyesore for the Croats whose intolerance reached its peak in the early 90s when aggravated fans burned a Yugoslav flag at the Poljud Stadium, sparking a hooligan incident of national proportions... and we all know how the history unfolded in the coming years.

The situation today is, well, mostly the same, only it seems that both sides have learned in the meantime to take it out to the streets whenever there is a valid reason for protesting. Not only that, the supporters have even become engaged throughout the years in action against people in charge of the clubs such as Mirko Barisic (chairman of Dinamo Zagreb), and the National Football Federation, (president Davor Suker) as they are responsible for a thriving corrupt system, that is heavily tied with political leaders from both eras like Milan Bandic (mayor of Zagreb, Croatian capital), as well as their millennial successors.

According to the countless reports on soccer in Croatia, there are two types of supporters in the country: those who occasionally remember that there is a national team (head coach Zlatko Dalic, FIFA 2018 in Russia), put on their chequered jerseys and head to the stadium to sing a couple of songs or post a couple of photos on social media.

The other group represents a much smaller flock, but a more vicious one, since living for soccer on a daily or weekly basis, whose foundations have long been shattered and ravaged by a corrupt system, war and a collapsing despotic omnipotence, has left some serious markings on the entire region, not only Croatia.

Teaming Up For Sports Terrorism

Deliberate match interruptions are one way to fight the corrupt Croatian Soccer Association. Despite all warnings from the soccer fans over the years, often backed up with “awakening campaigns” and peaceful activities, like the colorful protest on Jelacic Square in Zagreb, when nearly 30,000 people gathered to watch Croatia vs. Czech Republic (Euro 2016), hooligans on Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Étienne finally expressed their outburst against the suspicious people who are running the country, education, economy and soccer by sending fireworks, flares and missiles onto the pitch.

Shortly afterwards, a ruckus among Croatian fans broke out, leaving the whole country in utter disbelief: the soccer hooligans were deliberately trying to force an interruption of the match so that the national team would be sent home. Intense soccer game had turned into a nightmare… perhaps too much of a sacrifice for turning internal squabbles into the personal gain of a few.

Put it differently, the incident was aimed at one of the main strongmen of soccer in the country – Zdravko Mamic. Famous not only for his nickname “the soccer godfather”, but his connections to the police, politicians, media and even justice system, it is believed that he is also involved in numerous affairs with the league and referee association.

After much controversy, hostile behavior towards journalists and ministers, both Mamic and his brother Zoran were arrested on the account of extortion, transfer irregularities, tax evasion and bribery. Now facing a prison sentence of six and a half years, Zdravko Mamic crossed the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina refusing to return to Croatia, since he also owns Bosnian citizenship.

Still and all, it seems that hooligan riots and violence ultimately gained more wind in their sails, as incidents continued throughout 2017 and 2018. Numerous protests, boycotts and riots have left the stadiums in Croatia empty; the league is considered weak and hard core fans are now using the situation to express further disappointment by provoking the government with more violence. Matches in empty stadiums are slowly hijacking the nation’s love for soccer, since hooligans’ actual message to FIFA and UEFA is to reform all structures.

Meanwhile, fighting corruption with racism, fights, hatred and fascist slogans due to the lack of political will to act, is tearing down the relationship between regular people and its national team; the home qualifiers for the World Cup 2018 took place behind closed doors, as will one qualifying match for the Euro 2020.

Symptoms Of a Disease

When Istanbul’s basketball team’s Galatasaray ultras confronted the travelling group of Red Star Belgrade fans prior the EuroLeague clash in 2014, the ensuing clash resulted in one Red Star fan’s death. These tragedies happened before, but the narrative of what happened afterwards paints a detailed tapestry of how hostile, morbid and ruthless is the contrasting nations’ perception of the other...

...Galatasaray fans, scandalously, went on to openly celebrate the murder of the said Red Star fan on numerous occasions during their team’s matches, while Serbian consulate, somewhat dramatically, exclaimed that the murder was “an act of terrorism” – certainly a statement that poured more fuel on fire rather than helping alleviate the tragic situation.

The roots of this antagonism in Serbo-Turkish relations are to be found in Ottoman’s Empire rule over lands of modern-day Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia. Conquered for centuries, Serbia only regained its full independence in late XIX century – and in Balkan terms, 100+ years is not enough for wounds to heal and injustices to be forgotten.

Far from it that one man’s death should be equaled with the proverbial pin drop, but the sense that quiet, high tension could erupt any moment into utter Bedlam is prevalent during these sporting clashes – even the slightest thing can provoke disastrous outcomes. Galatasaray fans were also involved in the killing of two Leeds United fans in the wake of UEFA cup semifinals between the two teams in 2000. They took this behavior to the finals in Copenhagen where they were confronted by the equally notorious English hooligans supporting London’s Arsenal – the two groups ransacked the city, with many injured and arrested.

Turkish soccer is also plagued internally by the clashes between opposed sides – this could mean supporters of two clubs or even different fractions within nation. The Guardian recalls only some of these horrific events: the FC Fenerbahce bus pierced by bullets in 2015, League 1 coach stabbed (!) six times during the game, the referee hit by a stone thrown from the stands in 2010, countless accounts of racist abuse of African players (marring the entire region, not just Turkey) ... the list goes on.

Neighbors’ Quarrel

It is much easier to provide the historical context to the more recent and fiercer antagonism. The communist-socialist regime of two countries, Yugoslavia and Albania, led by Tito and Enver Hoxha, kept harmonious relations between people in societies that exhibited social cohesion through labor and alleged classlessness at the expense of faith. Post-socialist revival of nationalist and religious feelings permanently altered this path of closeness.

The radicalization and rising poverty shaped certain groups of young men into fierce fans of certain clubs and teams. Behind the mask of sport and fair competitiveness was the underlying, irrational desire for regaining one self’s dignity and finding life’s purpose in the military-like formation that ultras groups resemble.

Albanian soccer fans are, in that respect, no different than those of Serbia or Croatia. The EURO 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania played at Partizan’s stadium in Belgrade was always going to be a tense affair, what with two countries’ relations deteriorating over Kosovo.

It was interrupted when a drone flying the banner of so called “Great Albania” – nationalist fantasy pertaining to “adjustment” of territories - appeared over the heads of dismayed onlookers: spectators in the stands, players, baffled UEFA officials and – statesmen and political figures in attendance. Also, in attendance and adding fuel to fire, for further disbelief, was one Ivan Bogdanov – the notorious culprit of Genova's horrific scenes few years before.

The mess that followed had, as a consequence, the cancellation of match and the deduction of three points from the Serbian side – due to pitch invasion by the extremist section of home fans, angered at Albanian players who seemed to defend the insulting banner claiming the Serbian territories as their own.

During a brawl, several Albanian players were injured and refused to return to the pitch, which Serbia’s Football Association deemed a reason enough to be handed the three points, not taken. The return match in Albania proceeded without any hitch – save for the nationalist chanting by the home fans, much like the atmosphere in Belgrade created by certain sections of the host crowd.

Fixing Sports Matches

Another prevalent issue that stems for the corrupted sector of major football organizations in the country…

…is the deeply ingrained, unlawful manipulation of sports matches outcome.

Sadly, players, officials in positions of power and underground criminal groups all work together to keep this from of organized crime flourishing in the country.

Whether investing money in what they already know is a fixed event, or manipulating the results themselves…

…this is done for various reasons that are of some benefit to everyone involved. Whether tax evasion or money laundering, extra profit for athletes who make little income or large financial compensation to organizers, the outcome of such black-market tactics are damaging to the public image and reputation of Serbian professional sport.

Frequent police raids and Interpol investigations became the norm, such as one in late 2017 that unmasked the criminal group running the online platform with various betting sites. These sites were offering matches that were fixed by the very same group or whose outcomes were known to the criminals in advance. They have covered their trails by sending the money to off-shore companies, making it harder to trace the cash back to the source.

Match-fixing and enticing people to place wagers on fixed football games became so prevalent and deep-rooted within the society that it even reached contestant themselves, making them perpetrators.

In December 2018, football club Dinamo Vranje has suspended one of their players after the controversial home match against Belgrade behemoth FC Partizan. The game was marred with odd decisions and dubious performances by the team, with one player conceding a penalty kick against a Partizan player which proved to be the turning point of the match. The penalty foul, as it turned out, was made deliberately. Another match, against Proleter, which is now also deemed fixed, resulted in Dinamo completely terminating the contract with another player, who was fired.

Further action by Football Association of Serbia is pending, although when one of the Ethic Committee representatives was asked about this, they rudely cut the interviewer in mid-sentence, demanding not to be asked about this again. A curious reaction that raises the question if the match-fixing actually runs deeper than it may appear.

What’s On Horizon

Hooligan mindset sometimes gets expressed by the players themselves. Perhaps not surprisingly, as a decent amount of these were recruited into their clubs and sport in general whilst still spending most of their time on the stands, among the hooligans. Such was the rhetoric and celebratory behavior of Albanian-born players during the World Cup match between Serbia and Switzerland.

On a more positive note, there are also welcome signs of curing the ailment. In 2018, Belgrade held the EuroLeague Final Four tournament, with defending champion, Fenerbahce (also from Istanbul) bringing a flock of own traveling fans to the capital city. The multi-day event went without a single skirmish, despite justified fears that it would be a catastrophe waiting to happen.

With officials’ reluctance and lukewarm ambition to grapple with the issue of extremist supporters, however – whichever part of the region is discussed - one has to wonder if there indeed is a deeper, sinister link between the hard-liner fans and the powers that be.

All things considered, hooliganism in Balkans, as well as in other parts of the world, isn’t just a tool financed by the bad people with interests but a powerful force for destabilizing the state and imposing fear to structures controlled by its government.

Unlike British, who usually clash with other clans after consuming lots of alcohol, the Croats, as well as the Serbs use guerrilla tactics to enforce terror with one aim only – to apply whatever radical and uncivilized measures necessary, inflame authorities and stir discontent, and finally pertain embarrassing misuse of sport for reaching personal gains .

Source:

“Serbia v Albania (UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying)”, wikipedia.org

“Drone brawl stops Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania - video”, theguardian.com, October 14th, 2014.

“Violence is killing Turkish football and no one is doing anything about it”, Ugur Meleke, theguardian.com, May 13th, 2015.

“Football in Southeastern Europe: From Ethnic Homogenization to Reconciliation.New York, NY: Routledge.”, Fiona Skillen and John Hughson, 2014

"Huligani sve osi­o­ni­ji", Dušan Telesković, rts.rs, November 10th, 2013.

“World Cup: Croatia among countries 'sending hooligan Ultras' to Russia”, David Rivers, dailystar.co.uk, June 16th, 2018.

“Other Side Of Football Hooliganism In Croatia”, Goran Antonijevic, total-croatia-news.com, June 18th, 2016.

“Croatian hooligans up against a soccer mafia”, Zoran Arbutina, dw.com, June 24th, 2016.

“Zdravko Mamić”, wikipedia.org