UEFA opens disciplinary case against Crvena Zvezda over Mladić banner
The Serbian club faces potential sanctions after fans displayed a banner honoring Ratko Mladić during a Europa League qualifier.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bobik
UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings regarding the conduct of Crvena Zvezda supporters during their Europa League qualifying match against Viktoria Plzen. Fans of the Serbian club displayed a banner honoring Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army who was convicted of war crimes and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal.
According to The Athletic, UEFA is investigating the incident under three counts: racist and/or discriminatory behavior, improper conduct, and the display of slogans that contradict the principles of sport.
The Srebrenica Memorial Center commented on the situation, stating that such actions discredit the club and contradict the values upon which European football should be based.
The incident occurred during the second leg of the Europa League qualification round, where Crvena Zvezda suffered a 5-1 home defeat and was eliminated from the tournament. Mladić, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide and the siege of Sarajevo, passed away in a UN prison in The Hague in August.
UEFA's disciplinary bodies are now tasked with determining the appropriate sanctions for the actions of the Serbian club's supporters.