Milan, 29 Aug. (LaPresse) – UEFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against Serbian side Red Star Belgrade over a number of banners that appeared to glorify the former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic, who passed away on Thursday. This is reported by the British website The Athletic, which states that the Belgrade-based club posted images on its social media channels of supporters waving banners during Thursday’s Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen, bearing the words: “General, eternal glory and thank you”. Chants in honour of Mladic were also reported during the match. On Friday, UEFA, the governing body of European football, stated in a statement to The Athletic that it had launched disciplinary proceedings against the Serbian club on three counts: “racist and/or discriminatory behaviour”, “conveying a message unsuitable for a sporting event” and “misconduct by the team”. The Srebrenica Memorial, which commemorates the 1995 genocide, in turn contacted UEFA after the match to state that “a club that knowingly uses its official communication channels to spread messages glorifying a man convicted of genocide cannot dismiss such behaviour as merely that of the fans”.
Football, media: UEFA launches investigation into Red Star over pro-Mladic banner
Milan, 29 Aug. (LaPresse) – UEFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against Serbian side Red Star Belgrade over a number of banners that appeared to glorify the former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic, who passed away on Thursday. This is reported by the British website The Athletic, which states that the Belgrade-based club posted images on its social media channels of supporters waving banners during Thursday’s Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen, bearing the words: “General, eternal glory and thank you”. Chants in honour of Mladic were also reported during the match. On Friday, UEFA, the governing body of European football, stated in a statement to The Athletic that it had launched disciplinary proceedings against the Serbian club on three counts: “racist and/or discriminatory behaviour”, “conveying a message unsuitable for a sporting event” and “misconduct by the team”. The Srebrenica Memorial, which commemorates the 1995 genocide, in turn contacted UEFA after the match to state that “a club that knowingly uses its official communication channels to spread messages glorifying a man convicted of genocide cannot dismiss such behaviour as merely that of the fans”.