Albania striker, Mirlind Daku, has been handed a two-match ban by UEFA after singing derogatory songs through a megaphone after his nation's 2-2 draw with Croatia on Wednesday night in Hamburg.
Tensions between Serbia fans and Albania fans have been ongoing throughout the tournament, and the Serbian FA threatened to pull their team out of the tournament on Thursday after Albania fans were heard chanting anti-Serbia chants in their opening two matches of the tournament.
According to reports, Daku grabbed a megaphone in front of the Albania end on Wednesday afternoon after the full-time whistle and began chanting ‘f*** Macedonia and f*** Serbs' in a move that riled the fans up further.
🇦🇱⚽️ UEFA has banned Albania's forward Mirlind Daku for two games at Euro 2024 after he led fans in anti-Serbian and anti-Macedonian chants following the match against Croatia.
He won't play in Albania's game against Spain, which is crucial for Albania's qualification into the… pic.twitter.com/BBQzMqf76n
— kos_data (@kos_data) June 23, 2024
In addition to the ban, UEFA have fined the Albanian Football Association €25,000 for ‘transmitting provocative messages not fit for a sports event' and €22,500 due to fans invading the pitch and setting off fireworks.
They aren't completely out of the woods yet, either. UEFA are still investigating ‘potential racist and/or discriminatory conduct by supporters' from the match against Croatia.
Mirlind Daku banned for two games – Striker apologises on social media
Before his ban was announced by UEFA, Mirlind Daku took to social media to submit an apology to try and defuse tensions between Albania fans and Serbia fans. He posted:
“Apologising is manly, and I feel a moral and professional obligation to do so, for all those who have been hurt. Like any footballer, in those moments the emotions are on another level, which can only be understood on the field.
“It is difficult to describe the feeling of playing for this national team, for these wonderful fans who give us unlimited love. Sorry if I offended anyone after the match with Croatia, the effect of the game does its thing,” added Daku in a statement on social media.
“I continue to work together with the whole group for our dreams.”
Albanian FA try to defuse the situation
There are plenty of fears about what could happen next, particularly if Albania and Serbia continue at Euro 2024 into the knockout stages. In a plea to their supporters, the Albanian FA (known as the FSHF) released the following statement:
“The FSHF invites fans and football lovers to support to the end the Albanian national team in this magical and historic path in Euro 2024 by showing citizenry and accountability through correct behaviour and by respecting the rules and the opponents.”