Srebrenica Memorial Center Urges UEFA to Ban Red Star Belgrade

The Srebrenica Memorial Center has formally petitioned UEFA to permanently remove Red Star Belgrade from all European football competitions. This request follows a controversial incident during a recent Europa League match against Viktoria Plzeň, where fans of the Serbian club displayed banners and chanted in support of the late Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide.

In their official complaint, the Memorial Center argued that the situation transcends typical fan misconduct. They emphasized that the club’s decision to share images of these tributes on its own social media platforms demonstrates an institutional endorsement of the glorification of a war criminal. The organization maintains that such actions are fundamentally incompatible with the core values upheld by European football’s governing body.

Following the incident, UEFA took disciplinary action against Red Star Belgrade, imposing a fine of 90,000 euros. The governing body cited charges related to racist and discriminatory behavior, as well as the use of inappropriate messaging during a sporting event. Additionally, the club has been prohibited from selling tickets to its supporters for an upcoming away match in the Conference League.

Ratko Mladić, who died at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence in The Hague, was the primary figure responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, which claimed the lives of over 8,000 Muslim men and boys. The Memorial Center’s call for a total ban reflects the gravity of the offense, as they continue to pressure UEFA to take a stronger stance against the public celebration of individuals convicted of mass atrocities.