UEFA Punishes Red Star Belgrade Over Fan Tribute to War Criminal

In a significant disciplinary action, UEFA has imposed a hefty fine on Serbian soccer club Red Star Belgrade following a controversial display of support from fans for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic. This incident occurred during a Europa League match against Czech club Viktoria Plzeň on August 27, where supporters openly chanted Mladic's name and displayed a banner in his honor.

Mladic, who passed away on the same day as the match, was notorious for his role in the Bosnian War, particularly for orchestrating the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that resulted in the deaths of over 8,000 Muslims. He was serving a life sentence for genocide in The Hague at the time of his death at the age of 84.

UEFA has fined Red Star Belgrade €90,000 (approximately $104,500) for behavior deemed unacceptable at a sports event, alongside charges of racist and discriminatory conduct. Furthermore, the club has been barred from selling tickets to its supporters for the upcoming away match against Swiss club Lugano in the third-tier Conference League. While another ticket ban has been deferred for a two-year probation period, Red Star's history of fan misconduct, including previous incidents of racist chants, has raised ongoing concerns for the organization.

Source: www.independent.co.uk