Euro 2016 Qualifying

[Guest MattP]

Any footballer with English blood should want to play in this friendly.

Yep. Which explains the Raheem Sterling problem, you can't get the same commitment and loyalty from players who aren't really English.

[filbertway]

To give them their dues I think a lot of these hooligans are quite well known and powerful in Serbia. Apparently the man who ran on the pitch first was the 'infamous' Ivan Bogdanov.

Looks like a right meat-head. Wouldn't say it to his face though!

 

Ha! I have to say I don't pay too much attention to the Serbian Hooligan scene, or any hooligan scene for that matter.

 

If there was a hooligan world cup I'd fancy a Brazil v Serbia final.

[Jordan]

Let's be honest, they're all ****ing nutters.

I probably shouldn't have tried to argue the point because of this. It's a really sorry state of affairs. It's also a shame for the Albanian team, who had acquitted themselves well for the first 215 minutes or so of their qualifying campaign.

[Guest MattP]

I probably shouldn't have tried to argue the point because of this. It's a really sorry state of affairs. It's also a shame for the Albanian team, who had acquitted themselves well for the first 215 minutes or so of their qualifying campaign.

The Albanian side were greeted by politicians on their return today shaking their hands coming off the plane

[Manwell Pablo]

Poland beat Germany and they're world champions. Will people say Poland are better than Germany? No.

Bar the odd freak result, such as these mentioned we come out on top every time.

 

Yeah no disagreeing, just making the point we aren't untouchable. As I have a feeling Scotland might show. 

[Jordan]

The Albanian side were greeted by politicians on their return today shaking their hands coming off the plane

Everybody in the country should be shaking the hand Lorik Cana used to beat the piss out of that Serbian hooligan.

[Mrfox452]

I am. Congratulations. You didn't deserve any more than a point. And I hate that it was Ronaldo of all people, who once again was kept fairly quiet.

 

A draw would have been a fair result.

 

Both teams lacked quality in the final third.

 

Quaresma came up with a bit of quality and Ronaldo put it away.

 

Why the hate for Ronaldo? It's Nani who I hate, the useless cvnt.

[bovril]

Somebody told me today that the brother of the Albanian PM was found "with a remote control".   To be fair that someone was my girlfriend so not too reliable...

[Super_horns]

Somebody told me today that the brother of the Albanian PM was found "with a remote control".   To be fair that someone was my girlfriend so not too reliable...

Probably read it in the papers - there is suggestions he has some link to football hooligans.

[sphericalfox]

Somebody told me today that the brother of the Albanian PM was found "with a remote control".   To be fair that someone was my girlfriend so not too reliable...

 

Your girlfriend is the brother of the Albanian PM?

[bovril]

Your girlfriend is the brother of the Albanian PM?

 

I'm not sure to be honest. I'll ask her.

 

 

 

She said "no".

[sphericalfox]

I'm not sure to be honest. I'll ask her.

 

 

 

She said "no".

 

Does she have a remote control near her?

[Finnegan]

Ivan Bogdanov is ****ing terrifying.

[Guest MattP]

Ivan Bogdanov is ****ing terrifying.

 

Just reading about him now, that's a guy you'd want in the trenches with you.

 

When he invaded last night the soldiers ran at everyone else with sticks drawn and then when encoutering him politely asked him something before he was allowed to stroll back off into the stand leading chanting on the way

[bovril]

Does she have a remote control near her?

 

Why would the remote control be in the kitchen?

[Kitchandro]

I'd ban both Serbia and Albania from the Euros.

 

If they are more interested in having fights over political matters than playing football matches then it should be no great loss to them.

[fuchsntf]

Any footballer with English blood should want to play in this friendly.

THIS.. Well said. The shame is many TV and media pundits, plus fans will be putting the game down.

No1 that WILL be fun , will be the Scots vs England fans social media banter.

This is the oldest hard fought International in the world, its the real game, its what hate-love fair, hard rivalries is about.

Not Holland vs Germany, Not Spain vs Portugal, Comparisons many neighbours game in S.America countries.

Brazil/Uraguay vs Argentinia.

No cup but 50yrs bragging rights never a friendly, more 'frienemy' International Unique in world football.

Now with no full blown home internationals,

Still love to to see an Ashes style competition with the Scots over 3 games.

Games must include at least 4 x u21players, subs 4 not 3... 5 v10 subs U21.

An international I would love to see returned to the fixtures.

[purpleronnie]

Any footballer with English blood should want to play in this friendly.

Leave the republic of ireland team out of this.

[fuchsntf]

I'd ban both Serbia and Albania from the Euros.

 

If they are more interested in having fights over political matters than playing football matches then it should be no great loss to them.

The various scenes related to this incident, on the 2 countries streets also with politicians involvement, was sickening, and just as worrying as IS movements, and Yugoslavian ethnic cleansing incidents of the past.

Balkans Politics is still as Volatile and a powderkeg laying on tinder, as for the last 2-300yrs, even 1000yrs.

[bovril]

The various scenes related to this incident, on the 2 countries streets also with politicians involvement, was sickening, and just as worrying as IS movements, and Yugoslavian ethnic cleansing incidents of the past.

Balkans Politics is still as Volatile and a powderkeg laying on tinder, as for the last 2-300yrs, even 1000yrs.

 

Yeah all those wild Balkan people living in caves just itching to murder and pillage the next village...

 

There are countries with big hooligan problems. No need to massively over-exaggerate it.

[sphericalfox]

Why would the remote control be in the kitchen?

 

good call.

[fuchsntf]

Yeah all those wild Balkan people living in caves just itching to murder and pillage the next village...

 

6There are countries with big hooligan problems. No need to massively over-exaggerate it.

Just go to the area, and cross borders, talk to the people on the streets, this has nothing to do with football.

This is not a critic of the people of the Balkans, as your 1st sentence suggests.

Over zealous and local racist politics, and Politicians who ride and feed these thoughts are rife.Even within the govts.invastructure there are local racist and Hyperpatriotic tensions that many British will find hard to understand.

It is not football- hooliganism, its about Balkan conflicts, historical and recent.

The older generation immigrants who arrived in Britain many years ago, forgot old rivalries and politics, became great friends

with other old Balkan families, then Yugoslavian issues and seperation openned up old wounds.

[bovril]

Just go to the area, and cross borders, talk to the people on the streets, this has nothing to do with football.

This is not a critic of the people of the Balkans, as your 1st sentence suggests.

Over zealous and local racist politics, and Politicians who ride and feed these thoughts are rife.Even within the govts.invastructure there are local racist and Hyperpatriotic tensions that many British will find hard to understand.

It is not football- hooliganism, its about Balkan conflicts, historical and recent.

The older generation immigrants who arrived in Britain many years ago, forgot old rivalries and politics, became great friends

with other old Balkan families, then Yugoslavian issues and seperation openned up old wounds.

 

I think you're a bit closer to the point here than with your first post.

 

I must be talking to the wrong (or right) people because most just want to get on with their lives and couldn't give a shit about flags of Greater Albania. People are sick of ideologies, they just want to have a beer and watch a football game. There are still tensions especially in Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. But to compare it to 200 years ago is a bit much. There are some racist politicians as you point out but there is also a very healthy cynicism from lots people who have seen such things before.

 

This should be dealt with as a hooliganism problem. Close the stadium for the rest of the qualifiers and put real pressure on Serbia (or any country with such problems) to act. Things will change. They already are, albeit very slowly.

[fuchsntf]

I think you're a bit closer to the point here than with your first post.

I must be talking to the wrong (or right) people because most just want to get on with their lives and couldn't give a shit about flags of Greater Albania. People are sick of ideologies, they just want to have a beer and watch a football game. There are still tensions especially in Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. But to compare it to 200 years ago is a bit much. There are some racist politicians as you point out but there is also a very healthy cynicism from lots people who have seen such things before.

This should be dealt with as a hooliganism problem. Close the stadium for the rest of the qualifiers and put real pressure on äSerbia (or any country with such problems) to act. Things will change. They already are, albeit very slowly.

Its always difficult on internet sites, to take up a theme and opinions.We are probably closer on thoughts and opinion on the issue.A good pub conversation eye to eye prevents the mis reading between the lines.

The 200 yr statement and connection to Yugoslavia, was to try and explain, YUGOSLAVIA kept the seperatate ideologies , relegious thoughts, issues of the seperate Balkan domains, now countries again in check.Once it imploded then old wounds from the old past opened.Independence drives patriotism, where minorities become criminally and poltically active.

Then football becomes a vehicle not the mainstage for their various gripes.Stirring racist or hyperpatriotic platforms.

Agree many citizens from all sides just want stability, common sense, old across border handshaking friendships to prosper, and carry on.BUT with wacky high up politicians making the Balkan historical conflict as a worthy modern Conflict,

the common sense civilised views of the majority, like the Yugoslavian split, is being ignored ,so large minorities are insistent,

their patriotism and fight against neighbouring countries are more worthy

The player taking the flag down, was probably just wanting to get on with the game.the other player seen it has an insult to his

countries flag.Then it all kicked off.Straight afterwards The politicians speaches with intent added flames

Then ask yourself this, if it happened Scots vs England at Celtic park/wembley and a flag was screwwed up by one of the players, and he in turn was attacked and kicked by an oppo player would we also, witness the same scenes.

say that wouldnt of kicked off here

[Jordan]

fuchsntf, If that happened in the UK, things would have kicked off to some extent, but I doubt you would see things deteriorate to the point where the match would have to be abandoned. Even putting aside cultural differences and how the English and Scottish cultures and peoples are linked, the attitudes and policies towards ultras/hooligans are different.

If English hooligans were responsible for a major crowd disturbance in recent times, you'd never see the main leader of the unrest on the pitch, let alone in the stadium. He'd be ordered to turn in his passport and/or check in to a local police station whenever England play for the rest of his life.

The first part of your post had it right: violent ultras groups are a means to further an ultranationalist agenda. In the UK, hooligan groups aren't as big, don't nearly have enough power, and don't have the backing of political parties, and they don't have the ability to turn a game of football into what happened last night in Belgrade, or worse, another Port Said massacre.