Red Star Belgrade away.

[TheGhost]

And just to add what I said , while in the day time things were just about ok , there was a very unsavoury atmosphere in the evening with men in black and in hoods lurking on most street corners in the city centre , often on the phone acting as spotters. Absolutely don’t wear colours if you’re out here and don’t stand out like a sore thumb, there are a lot of thoroughly nasty people in Belgrade.

That’s a massive exaggeration. There was one incident in one pub which I was sat in. The Red Star fans initially asked the ‘City hooligans to come outside’. Then the windows went in. I’ve felt perfectly safe the rest of the day. And I’ve been out drinking all day. The police were pretty quick to the scene. The political rally in Republic Square was ironically a Non Violence Rally.

Thousands rally in Belgrade against government and culture of violence | Serbia | The Guardian

Major demonstration is the fifth recent anti-government protest and was sparked by anger over two mass shootings

amp.theguardian.com

 

[Bibbers]

And just to add what I said , while in the day time things were just about ok , there was a very unsavoury atmosphere in the evening with men in black and in hoods lurking on most street corners in the city centre , often on the phone acting as spotters. Absolutely don’t wear colours if you’re out here and don’t stand out like a sore thumb, there are a lot of thoroughly nasty people in Belgrade.

This is more related to the upcoming elections. Like I said in one of my first posts, safety would be hit or miss (as in it could be safer than normal or less safe than normal) because of the elections coming up on Sunday. This happens at pretty much every anti-government or pro-civil liberties rally (which happen quite often).

Is anyone gathering in town before the EDS game today, or are people heading straight to the Vozdovac stadium? The number 26 bus should take you direct from Trg Republike (Republic Square) to the stadium. If the tickets for the main game aren't valid for this, I think you need to buy tickets inside the shopping centre itself. However, because of this, I'm not sure if there's any segregation of supporters. In the past, loads of tickets for the youth games have been given out to nursery and lower elementary school kids, so I don't expect there to be any trouble, even without segregation.

 

[KiloDelta]

That’s a massive exaggeration. There was one incident in one pub which I was sat in. The Red Star fans initially asked the ‘City hooligans to come outside’. Then the windows went in. I’ve felt perfectly safe the rest of the day. And I’ve been out drinking all day. The police were pretty quick to the scene. The political rally in Republic Square was ironically a Non Violence Rally.

Thousands rally in Belgrade against government and culture of violence | Serbia | The Guardian

Major demonstration is the fifth recent anti-government protest and was sparked by anger over two mass shootings

amp.theguardian.com

The facts from Queens Bar are as follows;

3 Serbians came to the door. One in broken English shouts “big fight, big fight, don’t sit, if you’re hooligan come out and fight”.

A little pushing and shoving at the door trying to tell them to go away. One City fan dragged outside the door to an awaiting ambush (40-50 Serbians head-to-toe in black with face scarves and masks). Friend of City fan goes to try and save his mate and gets it too.

Barman called Police. They maybe took 8-10 minutes to arrive. 2/3 City fans needed treatment for head injuries (glassed or weapon injuries).

The window was a double pane and only smashed on the inside, not the outside, so it was a City fan who did that with an ashtray (?). There was no brick through the window from the Serbians.

City fans held inside for about an hour while Police Forensics photographed the scene. There were 10 yellow number markers places on the ground beside evidence. Mainly baton handles.

 

[Bibbers]

The facts from Queens Bar are as follows;

3 Serbians came to the door. One in broken English shouts “big fight, big fight, don’t sit, if you’re hooligan come out and fight”.

A little pushing and shoving at the door trying to tell them to go away. One City fan dragged outside the door to an awaiting ambush (40-50 Serbians head-to-toe in black with face scarves and masks). Friend of City fan goes to try and save his mate and gets it too.

Barman called Police. They maybe took 8-10 minutes to arrive. 2/3 City fans needed treatment for head injuries (glassed or weapon injuries).

The window was a double pane and only smashed on the inside, not the outside, so it was a City fan who did that with an ashtray (?). There was no brick through the window from the Serbians.

City fans held inside for about an hour while Police Forensics photographed the scene. There were 10 yellow number markers places on the ground beside evidence. Mainly baton handles.

That's not necessarily true. I saw the window of a pet shop near me get accidentally broken by some kids horsing around. One pushed another into the window from the outside, and only the inside pane broke. The outside glass is possibly more resistant/flexible. I wasn't there so can't say for certain what happened, but it's entirely possible for an impact from outside to only break the inside glass.

 

[Sheik Battle and Goal]

Fair play to those that have gone but could think of nothing worse watching my back with some idiot wanting to attack me all the time.

Exactly the reason why I didn’t go although I would love to visit Belgrade at some stage but not when there is football on

 

[TheGhost]

They maybe took 8-10 minutes to arrive. 2/3 City fans needed treatment for head injuries (glassed or weapon injuries).

City fans held inside for about an hour while Police Forensics photographed the scene.

I only saw one lad - long hair and shorts - with a head injury. Hope he’s OK? I wasn’t held anywhere. We went to the Gunners over the road for a couple more pints.

 

[shevtheblue]

Thought they were a bit mental at ours tbh, randomly shouting Fuck City before the game had even started (and iirc during a minutes silence).

 

[Zubrman]

Assuming we're being kept in after the final whistle, what are people's plans for getting back into town?

 

[Bluetopia]

Was in Georges bar a 10 minute walk from Republic square and we had a great night going into the Square soon though so will see if its a different vibe.

 

[Bibbers]

I'm in Gunners having a morning pint, if anyone is at a loose end.