UEFA got Serbia fight ruling wrong, says Albania coach
RENNES, November 13, 2014 (AFP) – Albania coach Gianni De Biasi said UEFA’s reaction to incidents at the Serbia-Albania Euro 2016 qualifier last month were not just severe but also wrong.
UEFA declared the abandoned match a technical 3-0 victory for Serbia, docking Serbia the three points concerned and ordering them to play the next two home games behind closed doors.
The game was abandoned after mass fist-fighting broke out between rival players, with Serbia fans also joining the fray, after a drone bearing a pro-Albanian flag was flown low over the pitch.
“We suffered both physically and psychologically,” De Biasi told a press conference ahead of Albania’s friendly with France on Friday.
“When I watched the replays on television I realised that people will have failed to grasp how serious the situation was for us,” said Biasi, who feels Albania should have been awarded the win.
“We’re trying to forget what happened in Belgrade and instead want to look to the future.”