WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Ahead of the World Cup qualifying match between Albania and Serbia, the streets of Tirana have turned into a scene of nationalist outbursts. Tensions, rooted in deep historical and ethnic friction, have reached their peak.
An electrified and hostile atmosphere has reigned on the streets of Tirana ahead of the football match between the national teams of Albania and Serbia, which will be played tonight at 8:45 p.m. as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. It has been clear for days that this match goes beyond sports, and the latest incidents only confirm this. Disturbing footage is circulating on social media showing a group of Albanian fans in Tirana trampling and tearing up the Serbian flag, while shouting insults such as "Serbs, Serbs, f**** your mother". The match, one of the most politically charged and emotionally intense in European football, has once again brought to the surface ghosts of the past, particularly those linked to the Kosovo conflict and the wider history of the Balkans.
The Albanian capital is awash with nationalist symbols; in addition to Albanian flags, flags with the map of the so-called "Greater Albania", identical to the one that caused a diplomatic incident in Belgrade in 2014, and flags of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) are also visible. Sport Klub reporter Nikola Janković, who is based in Tirana, described the atmosphere as something he had never seen in 25 years of journalism, with motorcades, nationalist music and fans riding on rooftops. Memories of the abandoned match in Belgrade in 2014, when a drone with an Albanian flag sparked a mass brawl, are still fresh. Albania was awarded a 3-0 victory, securing its first place at the 2016 European Championship.
To prevent a repeat of such scenes, extensive security measures have been taken. Some 2,000 police officers, including special forces and counter-terrorism units, will be deployed around the Arena Kombëtare stadium. In addition, around 500 plainclothes police officers are expected to be present among the 22,500 spectators. Fans from Serbia have been banned from entering, which, according to the president of the Albanian Football Association, Armand Duka, should "contribute to a more peaceful environment." Anti-drone equipment has also been installed, with a warning that any drone will be shot down. Adding to the tension is the decision by the Albanian Football Association not to sell tickets in blocks to fan groups, but to allocate them by random draw among the more than 200,000 applicants, at significantly higher prices. This has angered the Tifozat Kuq e Zi fan group, which provides the most fervent atmosphere at national team matches. They accused the association of an "organized farce" aimed at the rich and announced an alternative gathering at the Pyramid in Tirana, where they will watch the match on a big screen. Ticket prices on the black market reached over 1,000 euros.
