UEFA has decided that the long-awaited match between the Serbian and Albanian national teams, valid for the European Championship qualifiers, will not take place in Belgrade. The match will be played on October 11, at the “Gradski stadion Dubočica” stadium in Leskovac, a small town near the border with Kosovo.
This decision comes as a result of the high risk assessment for the match, taking into account previous precedents. We recall that the clash between the two national teams on October 14, 2014 in Belgrade ended with numerous incidents on the field and in the stands, which forced UEFA to intervene even then with punitive measures.
The stadium in Leskovac is smaller and more easily controlled by the authorities, a factor that influenced UEFA's decision to move the match there.
The clashes between Serbia and Albania in football have always been more than sporting, so this match is expected to take place under strict security measures.
