Opposition Party Asks Authorities Who Beat Up Football Fans over Anti-Vucic Chants

Rajko Mitic stadium (Betaphoto/Branislav Bozic)

The Serbia Center party, led by Zdravko Ponos, asked the competent bodies on Sept. 12 to urgently inform the public about the identities of the violent thugs who beat Serbian football fans for chanting against the government at the Serbia-England match in Belgrade, and to say what action has been taken against said thugs.

Ponos' party said that footage showing a group of black-clad thugs entering the stands and starting to physically assault fans over their chants against President Aleksandar Vucic "shocked the world public."

"Even two days after this incident there is still no information from the Ministry of Interior or the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office about whether those individuals have been identified and whether proceedings have been launched against them, given that they obviously violated the Law on the prevention of violence at sporting events," reads the statement.

The party further said that "these are probably the same thugs Vucic sent to Riga to instill fear in (Serbian) fans at the European Basketball Championship" for chanting against the regime, adding that this week they "ruthlessly attacked people in the stands, including those who had come to the game with young children."

"The madness of Vucic, who is no longer able to take even the slightest criticism and expression of dissatisfaction with his arrogant dictatorship, is increasing day in, day out and can cause events with a tragic ending. However, what is more dangerous is that citizens can no longer count on even a hint of legal protection, which the police and the competent judiciary must provide them," says Ponos' party.