The atmosphere at the Euro 2024 in Germany, usually filled with the excitement of fans cheering for their teams, has been marred by incidents of racist chants and rowdy behavior. During the Albania vs. Croatia match on June 19, allegations of racist chants prompted UEFA to launch an investigation. Serbia’s football association has threatened to withdraw from the tournament, accusing Albanian and Croatian fans of celebrating the genocide of Serbians during World War II. Serbian football’s General Secretary Jovan Surbatovic condemned the chants and demanded severe penalties from UEFA.Amidst the controversy, Serbian fans expressed their dismay, emphasizing that politics should be kept out of sports. UEFA announced an ethics and disciplinary probe into the alleged racist and discriminatory conduct during the match. Albanian forward Mirlind Daku, accused of inciting the crowd with offensive remarks, issued an apology, acknowledging the intense emotions during the game. The Albanian football association has already been fined for fan misconduct in a previous match against Italy.Additionally, a Kosovan TV reporter was banned from the tournament for making a provocative symbol at Serbian fans. The Croatian football association denied any involvement in the racist incidents. Serbia also faces a fine for their fans’ actions during their match against England, further highlighting the political tensions spilling over into the tournament.
