Serbia and Albania are facing stiff sanctions after Uefa charged the countries with several offences following the abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier in Belgrade.
The match was halted in the first half when a melee erupted after an unmanned drone trailed a pro-Albania flag over the stadium. Uefa has announced that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the football associations of both countries.
Serbia have been charged with the throwing of missiles and fireworks, crowd disturbance, invasion of the pitch by supporters, insufficient organisation and use of a laser pointer.
Albania have been charged with refusing to play and the display of an illicit banner.
Both countries are likely to be handed heavy fines and other sanctions, including possible points deductions, when Uefa’s disciplinary body hears the case on October 23. Albania faces forfeiting the match and Serbia could play future games behind closed doors, but Uefa is not expected to bar the countries from the competition.
Michel Platini, the Uefa president, has described the incidents in the Partizan Stadium that followed the drone trailing a flag of Greater Albania banner – which incorporates parts of various other countries including Kosovo – as “inexcusable”.
The flag was hauled down by Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic and then brawls erupted involving players, officials and fans. Martin Atkinson, the English referee, led the teams off the field with the score at 0-0 as the disruption in the stands threatened to boil over, with objects being thrown onto the pitch at Albanian players.
Platini said in a statement: “Football is supposed to bring people together and our game should not be mixed with politics of any kind. The scenes last night were inexcusable.”
Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, said: “Football should never be used for political messages. I strongly condemn what happened in Belgrade.”
Albanian supporters had been banned from entering the stadium on safety grounds.
Tensions have never been far from the surface between the nations over Kosovo, the province with which both countries share a disputed border and is recognised as independent by the United States and major European countries but not by Serbia – a bone of contention with Albania.
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