Serbian Football Hooligans Halt EURO 2012 Qualifier

Serbian supporters clashed with police before the start of their team's Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa and once inside the stadium, smashed reinforced barriers and threw objects, including flares, onto the field forcing kick off time to be delayed.

Shortly after the game finally got underway, further flares flares were thrown by the Serbian fans, falling close to Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano. This was enough for referee Craig Thomson to blow his whistle and call the game off, six minutes after it had started.

UEFA have launched an enquiry into the incidents which could ultimately lead to Serbia's disqualification from the tournament.

Italian daily La Repubblica reported that after the game was cancelled, Italian hooligans were waiting for the Serbians outside the stadium and scuffles ensued. Shortly after midnight, rioters set fire to a bus in an enclosed part of the stadium where police were located raining throwing  stones, broken bottles and smoke bombs. 25 people were injured, according to Italian media.  

Serbian fans had been unruly in the day leading up to the match, even attacking their own team bus, injuring goalkeeper and former Red Star Belgrade player, Vladimir Stojkovic who is currently on loan to Partizan football club from Sporting Lisbon.

Italian police have reportedly arrested at least 17 of the  rioters.
The Serbian team arrived back in Belgrade early this morning, but avoided reporters. The Serbian Football Association, FSS, has dubbed the Serbian fans' behavior a disgrace for the country.

"The whole of Europe saw the disgrace and shame brought upon Serbia by fans who kept us under siege in our hotel for two days," FSS president Tomislav Karadzic told Serbian broadcaster B92.

He said it was up to the Serbian government to launch a swift investigation and establish who had recruited these young men to go to Genoa and riot.

UEFA has launched an investigation into the incident. The body has a range of sanctions at its disposal from fines through to disqualification from current or even future competitions.

This is second time in three days that pictures of Serbian hooligans have circulated the world's major media networks.  

On Sunday, thousands of hooligans and skinheads attacked police in central Belgrade in an attempt to disrupt the city’s Gay Pride Parade, leaving more than one hundred people injured and causing damage estimated at more than one million Euros.

Serbia's domestic league has been plagued with violence in recent years with the clubs and the authorities seemingly powerless to control closely knit hooligan groups, many of whom are alleged to have links to violent organised criminals.

In 2009 French football fan Brice Taton died in Belgrade after being attacked by hooligans prior to a football game between Partizan Belgrade and Toulouse. Fifteen people are currently on trial for his murder.