ENGLAND fans have been warned they could be targeted at the Euros by notorious Serbian hooligans who are known to create brutal carnage at big games.
Their opening clash with Serbia has been identified as one of the four “high-risk” matches in the group stages of the tournament this season.
England take on Serbia at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen in western Germany next Sunday.
But while it will be the chance for Gareth Southgate’s men to lay down a marker as one of the favourites to win the Euros, the match could be the centre of hooliganism for many fans.
Travelling Three Lions supporters have forged a poor reputation for their behaviour overseas over the years.
And the cheap price of strong beer has led to the Foreign Office issuing an official warning to fans telling them to “drink responsibly”.
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Following the Covid pandemic and the winter Qatar World Cup, this tournament presents the first chance for a new generation of supporters to follow England at a major tournament.
Approximately 1,600 known troublemakers were forced to surrender their passports for the duration of Euro 2024.
However, there is a real and genuine threat of rival fans wanting to confront their English counterparts in Germany – especially by the Serbians.
Serbian hooligans are one of the most violent football fans in the whole world.
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They have a reputation for clashing with cops and security teams after wreaking havoc at the football pitches.
Some of their signature moves include setting off flares in between matches, fighting with rival fans, and hurling brutal insults as well as provoking others.
Serbian “ultras” in particular – many of which are part of the far-right pro-Russian “Delije” or “Strongmen” Red Star Belgrade fan groups – have already made their desire to fight English and German nationals.
In 2018, Serbian and Brazilian fans were pictured brawling in the stands during a game in Russia.
Serb supporters were recorded chanting “Kill the Albanians” and wore T-shirts of Serbian war crimes general Ratko Mladic in a heated snub to two ethnic Albanians in the Swiss squad.
Kosovo fought Serbia in a bitter war for independence in 1999 that resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides.
In 2014, a mass brawl broke out between fans at a Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania.
Fans stormed the Partizan stadium in Belgrade and attacked players before riot police were called in to break up the bloody fight, forcing the match to be abandoned.
Supporters are known to plan their violent parades days before a match and have repeatedly said they would die for their club, according to Vice TV.
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FROM pitch raids to mass brawls and death threats, Serbian hooligans are known wreak havoc and create carnage during football games.
Die-hard groups of hooligans are intertwined with football in Serbia – and they are known for ruthlessly attacking players on the pitch and storming opposition stalls when the match turns against them.
Hooligan firms in the Balkan state have chilling names such as The Gravediggers, Head Hunters, Zulu Warriors, and the Red Devils.
And one of their most vicious leaders is known as “Ivan the Terrible”.
In 2012, Ivan – who has been linked to Serbian far-right paramilitaries – forced a Euros qualifying match between Serbia and Italy in Genoa to be abandoned after trying to attack rival fans and police.
He rallied supporters to lob live flares and bangers onto the pitch as players warmed up and ordered them to break down barriers separating them from Italian fans while taunting police.
Tracing their lineage back to the Balkan war of the 1990s, Serb football hooligans are renowned for their tough-as-nails attitude and love of violence.
They are known for throwing live bangers at players who have switched sides and invading the pitches when games don’t go their way.
In the past, the Ultras have killed rival fans – including a Toulouse supporter in 2009 who was beaten to death with iron bars and bicycle chains.
Roughly 500,000 Serbs live in Germany and there are fears some may head to Gelsenkirchen specifically to cause trouble around the England game – similar to the scenes in Marseille at Euro 2016 when Three Lions fans were attacked by Russians.
Scotland supporters are also thought to be at risk when they take on Hungary on June 23 at Stuttgart’s MHPArena.
One East European platform has even chillingly vowed daily updates from the Euros “where we will cover the matches and, above all, events outside the stadium”.
Up to 1,300 police officers will be deployed on matchday around the grounds with extra surveillance at fan zones and city centres as part of the massive security operation at the Euros.
It is understood British police “spotters” and plain-clothed officers will also be on hand to watch England fans – especially at the Trabrennbahn racecourse where there is a fan zone for 40,000 Three Lions followers near the Veltins-Arena for the Serbia game.
However, Germany’s experience with hosting major widescale sporting events means they are well prepared – which could put off some hooligans from trying to start problems.
A UK law enforcement source told the i: “If you were going to hold this tournament at this time anywhere apart from the UK, then you would choose Germany.
“They have a lot of experience at this kind of thing and they are putting in place a comprehensive system.
“But it’s a complex picture and unfortunately England fans are still regarded as fair game, or even desirable targets, by opposing hooligan groupings.
“There is particular concern about the Serbia game.”
Professor Dr Geoff Pearson added to the i: “Generally, England fans don’t go looking to start fights these days.
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“There are some who may misbehave a bit and attract the attention of the police.
“The higher risk is that local groups or other groups start targeting them.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
