__________________
Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
Jebus. Absolute mayhem in the Serbia/Albania game.
Flares on the pitch, then a Gyrocopter with a banner (which I presume was Albanian) flying over the heads of the players. A Serb player grabs the banner and the Albanians take offence and a scuffle ensues.
Match currently suspended.
It was the Albanian flag superimposed onto the map of Kosovo, which is quite a political statement.
__________________
Quote:
Somewhere Leon Trotsky is an Oilers fan, because who better demonstrates his philosophy of the permanent revolution?
The Following User Says Thank You to OffsideSpecialist For This Useful Post:
Disappointing result for Scotland in the end doesn't help that those lucky paddys got a late equalizer. Two must win games for Scotland against ROI now.
Any idea what the protocol is for something of this nature in qualifiers?
That's going to be a tough one to call. I would think it would have to be replayed or else the fella with the copter and flag = mission accomplished.
Behind closed doors? In a neutral venue, somewhere like Bosnia? Or Croatia?
Might come down to the ref's report, i.e. if both benches cleared or if only the Serbs but I hope for the sake of football that they make them play it.
__________________
Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
Reports starting to trickle in that the brother of the Albanian PM has been arrested at the stadium on suspicion of being involved with the flag incident.
Quote:
Orfi Rama, brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was arrested this evening in the VIP lounge of the Partizan stadium under suspicion that he organized and managed the incident with the Albanian flag
Gotta say that if the Albanian hadn't grabbed the flag like it was his God given right to defend it, none of this would probably have happened. Should have just let the Serbs get rid of it. It was provocative and had no place there. Played right into the hand of the instigators.
Looks like the Serb players did more to protect the Albanians than the stewards did, particularly Kolarov.
I think Serbia is going to get hammered on this one. If they're lucky they'll get to play again behind closed doors.
The Football Association of Albania has been charged by Uefa for “refusing to play”, following the the abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade. The Albanian FA has also been charged over the display of “an illicit banner” and there were charges too for its Serbian counterpart as Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings against both countries, who face stiff sanctions from the governing body.
The match was abandoned after a melee erupted after a mini unmanned drone trailed a pro-Albania flag over the stadium.
The Serbian hosts have been charged over “insufficient organisation,” fireworks being set off, missiles being launched, a crowd disturbance, a field invasion by supporters and the use of a laser pointer, Uefa said.
The case will be dealt with by Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body on 23 October.
The Serbian FA has launched fierce criticism of Albania claiming their team acted with restraint despite being provoked by the “offensive” flag and were then attacked when they tried to remove it from the field.
It said Albania’s response to the controversy had been “scandalous” and suggested it had been a “scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance”.
The statement said: “Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic managed to catch the flag and, as it can be clearly seen on all the footages, started to fold it as calmly as possible, in order to give it to the fourth official and for the match to be continued. Absolutely all of the Serbian players and officials on the bench were in their seats, calm and without any attempt to show force or rage because of the incident. However, Albanian players acted very aggressively and physically attacked Mitrovic.
“For the truth and justice we will not and do not want to allow the perpetrators who violated football to present themselves as victims.”
The statement said the Serbian FA had then asked Uefa to finish the match after emptying the stadium or to replay it this week but the Albania FA refused.
It added: “According to that, we estimate that they are directly guilty for the match abandonment and we expect that UEFA disciplinary bodies will register the match with 3:0 result, in favour of Serbia.
“It is a scandalous fact that the other party, with their ‘job well done’ is ridiculing not only FA of Serbia and Serbian people but also, we dare to say, Uefa.”
Serbs have got a case. Evidence is there that Albania instigated the melee not only by (through no fault of their own it could be argued) flying the banner but moreso by attacking the Serbian player that was removing it from the play area. Fact of the matter, regardless of what it was it was, it was a foreign object in the play area and had to go.
I think the key is if it is mentioned that it was offered to play the game after emptying the stadium. If Albania did indeed refuse that, then Serbia should be getting a 3-0 win.
The captain and goalkeeper of South Africa's national football team, Senzo Meyiwa, has been shot dead, police have confirmed The shooting happened after several men entered a house in the Vosloorus township near Johannesburg at about 8pm local time on Sunday, police said.
"There was an altercation. Senzo Meyiwa was shot,” the official South African police Twitter account said.
"Two suspects went into the house, one remained outside. The three fled on foot after the shooting."
Germany vs Gibraltar today. I don't even know what to expect. Part of me thinks the Germans are going to field a very young, inexperienced team and they're not going to be taking this very seriously.
And yet, this could be the thrashing of a lifetime.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
Heading to the pub to meet a couple of Jock friends for Ireland/Scotland. Should be a party atmosphere as Celtic Park gets to honour past managers and players on both benches.
Was a bit confused that there were no Union Jacks at the last Scotland game given it was post vote but was told that the Tartan army wants nothing to do with the unionists, an embarrassment they said.
So, I guess it appears that those that put their money where their mouth is and support and represent Scotland abroad still identify with Scotland the Brave and Saltires.
Poland gets it done in Georgia so whilst a draw wouldn't be a terrible result for Ireland a defeat for Scotland would see them slip out of reach already.
I think the Germans will hit double digits. They need to pile on the goals as they are way behind Poland and ROI on that count.
The game should have been played at ibrox instead. Irish love in is cringeworthy
It's not Irish love. It's just an absence of bigotry but I can appreciate you having trouble differentiating between the two. Just people getting on, side by side. It happens.
Makes sense for many reasons that the game wasn't at Ibrox. One it is a crumbling run down dump, reflective of the club. There is the racism issue, that the courts ruled on, again reflective of the club. And then there is the issue of sectarianism and bigotry, again reflective .... And as mentioned earlier the tartan army wants nothing to do with the likes of Rangers and what they represent. Congratulations to them.
Not to mention, is there a guarantee they would pay taxes on the gate receipts or some other form of financial irregularity? History suggests they like to be British until it comes to paying their dues.
Can't argue with the result. Ireland had hardly a chance all night. Naismith MOM. Good time had by all. Well done Scotland.
It's not Irish love. It's just an absence of bigotry but I can appreciate you having trouble differentiating between the two. Just people getting on, side by side. It happens.
Makes sense for many reasons that the game wasn't at Ibrox. One it is a crumbling run down dump, reflective of the club. There is the racism issue, that the courts ruled on, again reflective of the club. And then there is the issue of sectarianism and bigotry, again reflective .... And as mentioned earlier the tartan army wants nothing to do with the likes of Rangers and what they represent. Congratulations to them.
Not to mention, is there a guarantee they would pay taxes on the gate receipts or some other form of financial irregularity? History suggests they like to be British until it comes to paying their dues.
Can't argue with the result. Ireland had hardly a chance all night. Naismith MOM. Good time had by all. Well done Scotland.
Oh you're ####ing hurting. Haha 1-0 to the mighty Scots