Scandal at the EURO 2024: Serbia to quit the tournament?!

The relationship between the Serbs on one side and Croats and Albanians on the other is very hostile because of several wars that were led during the 1990s. That was a good enough reason for the latter two countries' fans to unite and chant "Kill the Serbs" together. Apart from that, during the first-round game between Serbia and England, a Kosovan journalist showed an "Albanian eagle" to Serbian fans to provoke them. Football Association of Serbia (FSS) then requested that the aforementioned journalist is banned from the tournament, which the UEFA accepted.

However, after the Croatia-Albania clash, FSS demanded punishment for both national teams because of the chants mentioned above, claiming that if that wasn't done, Serbia would quit the tournament. The General Secretary of FSS, Jovan Šurbatović, commented on the matter and announced the possible decision, speaking for Serbian RTS.

"What happened is scandalous and we will ask UEFA for sanctions, even if it means not continuing the competition. We are sure that they will be punished, because they have already responded to our appeal to remove the so-called journalist from Albania from the championship. We will demand from UEFA to punish the federations of both selections. We do not want to participate in that, but if UEFA does not punish them, we will think how will we proceed," declared Šurbatović.

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What further irritated the Serbs is that FSS had been previously punished after the England clash because Serbian fans "displayed political, chauvinistic, and racist messages against Kosovo", whose Football Federation complained to UEFA. Šurbatović remarked that as well, urging Serbian fans to remain dignified.

"We were punished for isolated cases and our fans behaved much better than the others. One fan was punished for racist insults and we don't want it to be attributed to others. We Serbs are gentlemen and we have an open heart, so I appeal to the fans to remain gentlemen," Šurbatović said.

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In case Serbia opts for withdrawal from the tournament, UEFA's regulations are clear, and it says that "the results of all of its matches are declared null and void, and the points awarded forfeited." Apart from that, the national team would lose all rights to UEFA's payments. On the other hand, if the withdrawal turns out to be "reasoned" per UEFA, the team would receive an "amount of compensation due for financial loss." Furthermore, the teams that didn't play the game against the withdrawn side would have to play an additional game, and the tournament calendar would have to be refined.

In the first two rounds, Serbia lost to England 1-0 and drew against Slovenia 1-1, thanks to Luka Jović's goal in the 95th minute. Serbia is supposed to play the next match against Denmark on Tuesday, of course, if the team remains competing in the tournament.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - GROUP STAGE

Wednesday

Croatia - Albania 2-2 (0-1)

/Kramaric 74, Gjasula 76 og - Laci 11, Gjasula 90+4/

Germany - Hungary 2-0 (1-0)

/Musiala 22, Gundogan 67/

Scotland - Switzerland 1-1 (1-1)

/McTominay 13 - Shaqiri 26/

Thursday

Slovenia - Serbia 1-1 (0-0)

/Karnicnik 69 - Jovic 90+5/

19.00: (5.60) Denmark (3.70) England (1.65)

22.00: (2.30) Spain (3.30) Italy (3.20)

Friday

16.00: (3.50) Slovakia (3.30) Ukraine (2.15)

19.00: (3.30) Poland (3.40) Austria (2.20)

22.00: (3.15) Netherlands (3.35) France (2.30)

***odds are subject to change***