Tirana with strict measures for Albania- Serbia

State police have announced they will take a set of security measures for the football match between Albania and Serbia, which is held Saturday at the “National Arena” in Tirana, while the Albanian Football Federation said it expects fans to support the National in a correct and sporting way and not view this match as a war. ”

Albania and Serbia are part of the K Group for qualifying matches at the 2026 World Championship, along with Latvia, Andorra and England. Currently, Albania has 3 points and is second in this group, meanwhile, Serbia has no point.

Albanian police announced that within the plan designed to provide security for the event, it will conduct strict controls of all persons entering the stadium in Tirana to see the World Qualification match closely.

She said it would be in order for fans not to put banners in the stadium with racist content, fireworks, flares, pyrotechnics and others.

Also, we appeal to citizens not to raise fears on the security perimeter [on the National Arena Stadium], because they will fall because the State Police will use anti-dred equipment”, the report said.

At a match between Albania and Serbia held in Belgrade in 2014, the match was interrupted after a threat with the flag of “Greater Albania” entered the stadium, which triggered clashes among footballers at the stadium, and nationalist calls by Serbs against Albanians.

As she told of her plan, the State Police called on fans to respect the laws during the football match.

Calling to Albania's Penal Code, police reminded citizens that entering the green field during the game is punishable by fines, or imprisonment for up to three months. It was also said that throwing hard items into the field or toward people and using pyrotechnics are punishable from six months to three years in prison.

Albanian criminal legislation considers it criminal offence, crackdown or any other act of violence, against sportsman, coach, referee, sports mediator, due to sporting activity, and sentenced them to jail terms of one to three years. This work, when done in sports venues, more than once, or by directors or members of sports clubs, is sentenced to prison terms from one to five years”, State Police said.

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Days before the match was held, Albania's official group of supporters, known as the “Red and Black Tyfos” announced he would not be present at the stadium, due to dissatisfaction with the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF).

“Tifos Red and Black” through a Facebook response on June 2nd said they have not bought any tickets this time, criticising the way of selling tickets.

Various from previous matches where our members were organised to provide tickets to our traditional sector, this time we did not participate in the lighthouse organised on the pretext of a false husband. This system, designed to guarantee tickets to tourist agencies and then feed ordinary markets, is deeply unjust and unacceptable”, the fan group's response was said.

This group also complained about the high ticket price for the match, saying they range from 150 to 1,000 euros.

“Absurd of this match lies in the constant hypocrisy of the FSHF, which preaches inclusion, but in reality excludes true fans, those who have been following the National for more than 21 years”, said the “Red Typhores of black”, reports REL, broadcast Periscope.

FSHF leader Armando Duka, during a presentation on the TV Klan Opinion show, said there has been great interest in buying tickets for the match. He defended the ticket sales system through lots, arguing that “all should have equal chances of being in stadium”.

This has undoubtedly brought some kind of dissatisfaction, since in the past we have given several grouped tickets. We have already decided that, like all other federations in Europe, we share equally for everyone, because ultimately we consider all those who come to the stadium are a grouping supporting the national team”, Duka said.

Duka acknowledged that this qualifying match against Serbia is being delivered with emotion and tension.

I don't believe it's just from the incident that happened in Belgrade. There's too much load and emotion. We try hard to de-dramatize the situation inside team”, he said.

The head of the FSHF said he expects fans to support Albania correctly and sportsly.

The message is to really live it as a football game. Don't let them see it as war. The World Qualification is a very difficult journey since the short”, Duka said.

Incident in this match does not expect Serbia's football representative selection, Dragan Stojkovic.

Earlier this week, he declared that the match against Albania is very important for the journey of the Serbian representative towards the World.

It's just a football game, it's our sports friends, somebody we're gonna host the European Junior Championship with. We go there to compete in sports, with no interest in political issues”, he said.

Just for joint organisation by Albania and Serbia, the European Championships for Under 21-year-olds, “The Red and Black Typhos” have crashed with the FSHF.

Last year, when the FSHF announced it would join forces to organise this championship in 2017, “Typhos Red and Black” threatened to stop supporting the Albanian football national because of this organisation. /Periscope