The politically-charged Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade was dramatically halted as Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled down a flag flying over the pitch, sparking a huge brawl and wreaking havoc in the Partizan Stadium.
Fearing trouble, the UEFA governing body had barred Albania fans from attending the match but nonetheless allowed both countries to face each other despite their long-standing dispute concerning the Kosovo region that had declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has a majority ethnic Albanian population.

The match was Albania’s first visit to Belgrade since 1967 and there was tight security to prevent problems. Nonetheless, a riot was sparked when a map of “Greater Albania” was flown over the pitch by a remote-operated drone. The flag showed Albania covering regions belonging to Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and a huge chunk ofNorthern Greece.

The banner also portrayed two Albanian nationalist leaders – Ismail Qemali, who declared Albania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 and Isa Boletini, an Albanian fighter against the Turks.

Written on the flag was the message “autochthonous”, meaning indigenous and in reference to Serbia’s attempts to control Kosovo despite not being indigenous. Noteworthy is the fact that seven of Albania’s squad were born in the Kosovo region.

Mitrovic grabbed the flag as it was hovering over the pitch and was immedately grabbed by Albanian players Andi Lila and Taulant Xhaka with the flag eventually ending up in the hands of striker Bekim Balaj who carried it towards the touchline.

Officials entered from both teams, attacking each other. The Serbian media says the drone was controlled by Orfi Rama, brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and that he was arrested, however this has not been confirmed.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic was quoted as calling the incident a “political provocation.” He is waiting to see how the European Union and UEFA will react. “If someone from Serbia had unveiled a flag of Greater Serbia in Tirana or Pristina it would already be on the agenda of the UN Security Council,” he said.

Serbia’s captain Branislav Ivanovic said that his side wanted to continue the match after it was stopped but the Albanian players said that they weren’t “psychologically ready.”

“I saw my players being attacked and hit even inside the tunnel, and even by the stewards. We were not in the right psychological or physical state to continue playing,” said Albanian captain Lorik Cana, speaking to Albanian television.

Thousands of Albanian supporters rushed to Tirana, Albania’s capital, to welcome the players as national heroes.