Riot police were called into action during England's World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade on Tuesday night. The intervention occurred roughly an hour into the match at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, home of Red Star Belgrade.
The unrest reportedly broke out amongst Serbian fans in the home end of the stadium. ITV commentators noted the disturbance, reporting that families and children were being moved away from the area. Gabriel Clarke, reporting for ITV, indicated the clashes stemmed from a political dispute between Serbian fans, involving pro- and anti-government sentiments.
The match was briefly paused by French referee Clement Turpin while riot police entered the stadium to quell the disturbances. Videos circulating on social media showed the police moving into the stands to address the clashes. According to reports, the skirmishes were quickly broken up, and a strong police presence remained in the area.
Ezri Konsa was targeted by a laser pen, which caused a brief pause in the game. There were also reports of anti-government songs and chants related to Kosovo during the match.
The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) had already been sanctioned by FIFA for "discrimination and racist abuse" during a previous match against Andorra in June, leading to a partial closure of the stadium for the qualifier against England. Branko Radujko, the FSS general secretary, had appealed to fans before the game to display behavior that would "send out an image to the world that will make us all proud".
The incidents at the match occurred against a backdrop of ongoing political tensions and protests in Serbia. Protests have been sweeping the country, initially sparked by the collapse of a railway canopy in Novi Sad that resulted in 16 deaths. These protests have since evolved into broader demonstrations against President Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), with demands for accountability and snap elections. Vučić has accused protesters of being "terrorists" and has been linked to far-right football hooligans. A Pride march in Belgrade also recently condemned police violence against anti-government rallies.
