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By:
Arsim Magjera
- September 10, 2024 18:30
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It should have been an ordinary football match, but it wasn't. Deçani - Prizren, held last weekend, was interrupted due to violence and obscene scenes. The match belonged to the second round of the Second League of Kosovo in football, namely the third level.
Away from the public eye, in the Second League and other lower level leagues and in the younger categories, there are occasional scenes of violence. Most cases pass without "getting big". They pass somewhat in silence. But not even the case of the weekend in Deçan.
The Prizren club published the recording of what happened. And the footage is deemed unacceptable for a football match and another serious blow to FFK, football and Kosovar sports in general.
There was a push and then a grab by the hair of a Prizren player. Then a tackle worthy of combat sports, from behind, on another player. Hitting him in the head and kicking the ball from other players. Then the pipe.
Entry of the home team's reserve goalkeeper who pulls a red card from the away team's player. Then the player from Prizren hit the goalkeeper from Dečana.
But that was not all. A fight started between the players where both sides got involved. The bottles "were flying from the stands". While the throwing from the stands did not stop and the tollovia kept growing, the spectators also entered the field. The attack on Prizren players was becoming more and more massive. Fans are seen hitting the players of the away team, one of them until he was knocked down.
Another person runs from behind the gate. He approaches a Prizren player and starts hitting him. He hits him several times and starts chasing the player on the field, although it seems that without any provocation and without any reason.
In all this chaos and scene of violence, only one policeman can be seen. In one case, he is seen trying to stop the fans. Then, powerless, standing in the middle of the field.
On Tuesday, the video was released and it sparked reactions. The Football Federation of Kosovo, which is responsible for the running of the competitions, "strongly condemned the incident".
According to FFK, the unsportsmanlike behavior was first shown by players from Deçan and then by a player from Prizren.
"Even more worrying was the escalation of the situation, where the fight between the football players on the field worsened with the involvement of civilians, who attacked the football players of the Prizren club", says a reaction of the FFK.
As usual, the Federation wrote that it will not tolerate violence in football. FFK has warned of measures against those involved. In fact, some players and potentially the host club will be punished. But all those spectators, who turned the football match into an arena for displays of aggression, will escape without punishment.
The police, although responsible for providing security at the match, did not take responsibility. Football and other sports matches are not allowed to start without sufficient police presence. This does not was respected in Deçan and the match officials are also responsible for this.
The police of the Peja region said that it was notified late.
"The Kosovo Police was notified late. Investigations are being carried out, we are collecting evidence. The cameras were also watched. The prosecutor who is dealing with the case has also been notified", said Fadil Gashi from the Police of the Peja region.
Club Prizren on Monday came out with an official reaction. The people of Prizren were leading 1:0, when the match was stopped, in the 90th minute.
"FC Prizren reacts to the severe violence caused by the players of KF Deçani and the entry of spectators into the field by physically attacking our players with punches and kicks. It is also worth mentioning the non-reaction of the Kosovo Police and their non-intervention in taking measures against the players of KF Deçani and the spectators who entered the field and mercilessly physically attacked the players and the technical staff of FC Prizreni. The escalation of the situation began after FC Prizreni scored a goal in the 86th minute, where during the celebration of the goal by our players, the spectators from the stands started throwing hard bottles", wrote in Prizren's reaction.
According to Prizren, there were only two policemen in the stadium. The Prizren club claims that the police did not even ask for additional forces or help after the violence.
It seems a little believable, but Deçani says that he organized the match in a "perfect way".
Te Deçani claim that they were provoked by the players and representatives of the opposing club. Deçani estimates that even the referees were not at the top of their duties and have always sided with Prizren.
"After the goal, the entire opposing team rushes towards the reserve bank of our club, addressing us with insults and insults with the dirtiest words and making inappropriate scenes towards the fans of our club", wrote Deçani.
According to this club, the situation escalated only after the player from Prizren hit "strongly in the face" the reserve goalkeeper of Deçan. The entry of the substitute player on the pitch to pull the opposing player out, even if he is sent off, is not allowed. Of course, hitting by the player is also unacceptable.
"Some fans of our club also entered the field, leaving the Kosovo Police. "Deçani's players keep the fans away from the field, protecting the opposing players," Deçani wrote further.
Deçani claims that the match was stopped because Prizren refused to play and not because of violence. In fact, after such scenes, the continuation of the match would be the biggest mistake possible, even if the fans weren't present.
Now the decisions of the FFK commissions are awaited. There will be penalties. But, after a few days or weeks at most, this event will be forgotten. Especially when Kosovar football suffers another blow from "inside". He often receives such.
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