Bad memories of Red Star: YB wants revenge for the 2019 tank scandal

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It’s bitter enough to fail because of a missing goal. Ultimately, the away goals rule, which was abolished shortly afterwards (on the initiative of YB!), will decide in 2019. 2:2 in Wandorf. 1:1 in the Marakana. YB is outside. Red star in the premier class. Crazy and bizarre celebrations take place on the hot August evening in Belgrade.

The whole thing goes so far that some Red Star players celebrate together with fans on a discarded army tank. The YB car, which has been ready to leave for a long time, cannot leave the stadium grounds. The police stand idly by. First you defeat your opponent athletically. Then he is humiliated.

Janko wants revenge and wants to win in Belgrade

Some YB players from back then are still (or again) in the Bernese team. For example, Saidy Janko (27), who remembers 2019 all too well. “They drove the tank into the street. It was annoying to have to wait after leaving the Champions League, even though everyone just wanted to go home. We now want revenge and the three points even more so!”

However, Captain Fabian Lustenberger (35) downplays what happened at the time: “The desire for revenge is no longer there.” Because it was a few years ago. And because you spent the night in Belgrade anyway and therefore just had to wait a little longer for the bus. “I was especially disappointed that I didn’t make it. Now we have to reach third place. And that regardless of whether we got stuck four years ago or not.”

More provocations in Belgrade

The tank scandal was not the only unacceptable provocation by the Serbs. The reporters from YB-Radio Gelb-Schwarz are constantly pelted with objects in the press box, which is 90 percent occupied by fans and hopelessly overcrowded. Another no-go was described at the time by VR president Hanspeter Kienberger (61): “We, the YB officials, had to walk across the lawn to our seats. Actually that’s not a problem. But you think: that can’t be true! UEFA is usually so well organized that you are surprised that the carefully planned procedure is not followed and everything turns out differently. Kienberger didn’t like to dramatize it at the time. Nevertheless, as he took stock, he said: “These are things that cannot simply be downplayed.”

The scandal had no consequences

These things that happened afterwards “were not appreciated,” says Christoph Spycher (45), responsible for sports on the YB board of directors, then head of sports. The scandalous events were brought to the attention of UEFA. “It just had no further consequences,” Spycher said. “Now there is a new opportunity to give the answer on the field.”

Military symbolism such as this discarded T55 tank, which the Serbs are said to have captured during the war in what is now Croatia (which the Croats deny), is part of the repertoire of fans and clubs. The tank scandal so angered the Croats that a tabloid headline read: “Red Star attacks young boys with tank!” The Serbs, on the other hand, downplayed the bizarre action. “Sportskacentrala” wrote: “The ‘Delije’* prepared a surprise for the match against YB. They placed a T55 tank in front of the stadium as a sign of the dedication of the Red Star supporters to the soldiers. The tank is intended as a tourist attraction and as a motif for fans and sympathizers.”

Tank choreo this season – because of Kosovo

But Red Star fans also attracted negative attention this season when they performed a tank choreo before a friendly against Fiorentina and a banner underneath read: “When the army returns to Kosovo”. This time the Kosovars were furious and called in UEFA, demanding strict measures.

Serbia is politically supported by Russia and the state energy company Gazprom is the main sponsor of Red Star.

*Red Star pendant

Source : Blick