The International Basketball Federation told Radio Free Europe that it has launched an investigation into anti-Albanian chants that erupted during a basketball match between North Macedonia and Romania over the weekend.
"At this stage, we are collecting relevant reports and statements, working in close coordination with the national federations involved, as well as local authorities and law enforcement," FIBA told REL.
According to Albanian politicians in North Macedonia, chants such as "The good Albanian is the dead Albanian", "Gas chamber for Albanians" and "Clean Macedonia" were heard in the crowd of fans at the second pre-qualifying round match for the World Cup to be held in Qatar in 2027.
FIBA said it unreservedly and firmly condemns hate speech and any form of discrimination or racist language.
"We actively promote the creation of an inclusive and respectful environment for all players, teams and fans as a key priority in sport," she said.
Senior officials from the Government of North Macedonia – where Albanians make up nearly a quarter of the population of 1.8 million – were in the hall during the match.
The incident has also caused strong reactions in Kosovo and Albania, countries with predominantly Albanian populations.
North Macedonia's Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, one of the officials who attended the match, condemned "nationalist and xenophobic chants" in a statement on August 4, two days after the match.
He said that, although he was present in the arena, he "did not notice" the fans' chants, claiming they were made by "a small group of people."
"I want to use this opportunity to join in condemning nationalism and xenophobia – first for what happened during the basketball match between [North] Macedonia and Romania, and then to send a message to all fan groups: to support in a sporting manner, to support their team and the Macedonian national team," Mickoski said.
The Albanian opposition party in North Macedonia, the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), said that at this event "anti-Albanian chants, racist chants and pure language of ethnic hatred against Albanians were heard."
North Macedonia's Minister of Sports, Borko Ristovski, said that this Ministry cannot react specifically to this event, "because it does not come from any sports entity - it comes from fans in the stands - and we have no competence to react when it comes to fans."
"However, let me take this opportunity to make an appeal: in Macedonia there is no need for such cheers, neither from one side nor the other, from anyone, from whichever side it comes from."
The Criminal Code of North Macedonia provides for penalties for racist incitement and hate speech in several articles, the most important of which is Article 319, which stipulates that anyone who publicly incites or spreads hatred, discord or intolerance on racial, religious, ethnic or national grounds is punished with imprisonment from one to five years.
On Monday, Kosovo's president, Vjosa Osmani, said that anti-Albanian chants heard in Kumanovo are unacceptable and "violate the spirit of coexistence and mutual respect."
"Albanians are an indigenous people in their own lands and deserve to be treated with dignity and equality, just like any other community," said Osmani.
The Kosovo Olympic Committee condemned the anti-Albanian chants during the match in Kumanovo in a Facebook post on Monday, saying that "such actions are unacceptable and contradict the fundamental values of the Olympic movement, which promote respect, equality and solidarity between peoples."
"KOK calls on responsible institutions to take concrete measures against hate speech and the perpetrators of these reprehensible behaviors, which have no place at sporting events," the reaction states.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, described the insulting calls against Albanians as unacceptable.
"Hate speech that incites violence, ethnic conflict and racism has no place in any public space, let alone in sport, which at its core carries the spirit of unity, cooperation, fair play and respect for others," she said./ REL
