Lazio defender Lorik Cana has spoken about the dramatic scenes during last night’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania.
The Albania captain was speaking after the match in Belgrade was abandoned, following a clash between the two sets of players and supporter trouble in the stands.
A stunt involving a remote-controlled drone flying political flag over the pitch ignited political tension between the two countries dating back to the 1998-99 Kosovo War.
Lazio defender Lorik Cana has spoken about the dramatic scenes during last night’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania.
The Albania captain was speaking after the match in Belgrade was abandoned, following a clash between the two sets of players and supporter trouble in the stands.
A stunt involving a remote-controlled drone flying political flag over the pitch ignited political tension between the two countries dating back to the 1998-99 Kosovo War.
The banner was snatched out of the air by Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic and the match descended into farce, with players and officials from both sides engaging in clashes.
“We came to Belgrade to play football, but were attacked by Serbian fans,” Lazio defender Cana has told tanjug.rs since.
“We just wanted to take the banner, and then everything would be back to normal, but we were attacked. I saw a Serbia fan with a chair who attacked my teammates, I had to defend them.
“I have a wound on my face, and Taulant Xhaka has a swollen nose and eyes. The security attacked us instead of protecting us.
“The UEFA delegates saw what was happening, and wanted us to resume play with an empty stadium, but it was impossible to return to the pitch.
“Football was created as a game for fun, not to witness such scenes.”
However, while Cana did rebuke the actions of the Serbian fans, he took the time to praise Serbian captain Branislav Ivanovic.
“Ivanovic was a real gentleman. He accepted our decision [not to continue], and before the match he came over to us to tell us it was only a game."