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Albanians say UEFA applying double standards on violence

Xinhua, April 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) on Friday reacted to a decision by the UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB), which gave Russia a 3-0 win over Montenegro by forfeit following the Euro 2016 qualifier in Podgorica last month that was abandoned because of crowd trouble.

In a press statement on Friday, FSHF said that the decision is extremely correct in accordance with the UEFA standards and rules.

However, FSHF emphasized that UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body did not apply the same judgment standard in the case of Serbia-Albania match, because violence in the Partizan Belgrade stadium was extreme and associated also with racist chants.

According to FSHF, "images of fans entering the pitch and throwing chairs, punches and fireworks to our players in the presence of 5000 policemen present an indisputable argument that host country failed to organize a normal football match based on UEFA rules. Awaiting the April 17 decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, we remain hopeful that a fair judgment in Albania's favor will be made," FSHF said in its statement.

The Serbia-Albania Euro 2016 qualifier in Belgrade on October 14, 2014, was abandoned after hard objects were thrown and Serbian fans entered the pitch attacking Albania's national team players. UEFA's disciplinary committee and appeals body have awarded Serbia a 3-0 win by forfeit after Albania players refused to return to the pitch, while Serbia were deducted three points for failing to organize the game properly, according to Albanian Telegraphic Agency.

The Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport is currently examining appeals by both Albania and Serbia and scheduled to rule over FSHF's appeal on April 17. Endi