Serbian PM skips match against Albania

At their match in Belgrade last October, Serbian fans had hurled smoke bombs and invaded the pitch to attack Albanian players after a drone carrying a nationalist flag bearing a map of “Greater Albania” flew over the stadium.

The man behind a drone stunt that triggered chaos at last year’s Euro 2016 football qualifier between Serbia and Albania was arrested on Wednesday on the eve of the teams’ second encounter, as hosts Albania mobilised 1,800 police officers to secure the politically-charged match.

Edi Rama, the Albanian prime minister, watched the match alone in the stands, and thanked the fans for their good behavior.

And tensions ahead of Thursday night’s return game remain high after missiles were thrown at the Serbian bus as it arrived in Tirana.

Almost 2000 policemen were mobilized to ensure the safety of Serbian visitors and the security in and around the stadium in Elbasan town.

Albania fans wait to be searched by police before the Group I Euro…

With Serbia eliminated and their opponents still in the fight for qualification, Albania coach Gianni De Biasi said his players were focused on trying to win the game.

Determined to prevent a repeat of violence, police carried out a riot drill a few hours before kickoff in front of thousands of bemused fans, firing water cannon bursts as a helicopter buzzed over nearby apartment buildings.

“These kind of games are the most straightforward”. “They were expecting that moment to catch us by surprise in a counterattack”. Denmark can also take benefit of Albania’s defeat.

Lufti Idliraku runs a small coffee shop opposite the 12,500-seat Elbasan Arena, and argued with customers over score predictions, danced to a passing street band and pulled a stuffed eagle, the national symbol, off his shelf.

“Overall, I think we deserved the win”.

Hammond said Serbia was acting in a compassionate and professional way.