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European Qualifiers: UEFA hand Serbia 3-0 walkover win but deduct them three points

Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag with Albanian national symbols flown by a remotely operated drone
Image: Serbia's defender Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag with Albanian national symbols flown by a remotely operated drone

Serbia have been handed a 3-0 walkover win against Albania by UEFA, but have also been deducted three points following last week's unsavoury scenes in the European Qualifier.

Serbia have also been ordered to play their next two home games in Group I behind closed doors - against Denmark and Armenia - and the Football Associations of both Serbia and Albania have been fined £79,000.

Both countries have confirmed they will be appealing against their punishments.

The match in Belgrade - which Albania fans were banned from attending - was locked at 0-0 in the first half when a drone, carrying a flag of 'Greater Albania' made several passes over the terraces and pitch.

A Serbian player eventually pulled down the flag, which two Albania players then attempted to retrieve.

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Martin Atkinson was forced to suspend Serbia's match with Albania after a brawl sparked by a drone flying over the pitch

There was then a mass melee, and several Serbia fans invaded the pitch and attacked Albania players.

The match was abandoned, with Albania reportedly refusing to return to the field. 

Albanian Football Federation President Armand Duka said they expected the game to be awarded to them as a victory.

"I am disillusioned because we were claiming a legal verdict from UEFA," Duka told Albanian television. "I do not understand what precedent this may set when a squad physically beats the opposing players on the pitch. I do not know if there is a greater scandal than this."

Albania coach Giovanni de Biaisi added: "They took away from us what we deserved on the pitch. What should happen now?"

The game was held against a backdrop of long-running Serb-Albanian tensions over Kosovo, a majority-Albanian former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008.

NATO waged a 78-day air war in 1999 to halt the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo by Serbian forces fighting a two-year counter-insurgency war. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo as independent.

The incident led to a diplomatic row between the countries and the prime ministers of Serbia and Albania agreed to postpone a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

UEFA charged the countries with a number of offences last week although its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) decided not to expel either nation from the group.

The governing body said in a short statement: "The CEDB has decided to declare the above-mentioned match as forfeited. As a consequence, the Football Association of Albania (FShF) is deemed to have lost the match 3-0. In addition, the FShF has been fined 100,000 euros.

"The CEDB has also decided to deduct the Football Association of Serbia (FSS)  three points for the current UEFA European Championship qualifying competition.In addition, the FSS has been ordered to play its next two UEFA competition matches as host team behind closed doors. Finally, the association has been fined 100,000 euros.

"These decisions are open to appeal."

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