New Kosova Report

Polish provocation in Belgrade

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

ECQ 2008

During Serbia’s European qualification game against Poland at home in Belgrade the small number of attendance witnessed an unusual conflict between the two groups of fans. About 1800 Polish fans traveled to Belgrade to see the game, there were a very small number of home fans compared to normality. Poland started the game in a good manner taking the lead 2 to 0 before Serbia eventually tied the game. What was more surprising for the home fans than their team coming back was the provocation coming from the Polish fans. During the standing 2-2 the Polish fans started chanting “Kosovo, Kosovo” at their Serbian counterpart. The few Serbs attending the game became notably upset and provoked by the chanting and answered by turning the Polish fans their back and booing. Chanting “Kosovo, Kosovo” as a provocation towards the Serbian fans is however nothing new for the Serbian team, earlier during the qualifications Finnish fans in Helsinki sang the same thing throughout the game turning the Serbs furious.

Serbia ended their failed run of qualification with barely getting away with a win at home against Kazakhstan, a team they lost against in Almaty. Finland ended on the same point as Serbia and missed the tournament as well, Portugal and Poland took the two first spots and are ready to compete during this summer in the European Cup 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

Finland was closer than ever reaching their goal of participation in the tournament, after beating Azerbaijan 2-1 in Finland after a last minute goal from the Kosovar born forward Shefki Kuqi, Finland took on Portugal away and only managed to get a draw. A win for Finland would have resulted in Finland taking Portugal’s place in the finals.