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Soccer

'Then it sort of erupted' - Nick Ames on the Serbia v Albania violence

A drone over the stadium...a pitched brawl on the pitch...and a match abandoned. Serbia v Albania...



'Then it sort of erupted&#...
Soccer

'Then it sort of erupted' - Nick Ames on the Serbia v Albania violence

A drone over the stadium...a pitched brawl on the pitch...and a match abandoned.

Serbia v Albania definitely did not pass of without incident and tonight journalist Nick Ames joines us on the line after having a pitchside view of last night's chaos in Belgrade.

Ames felt the initial build-up to the game was pretty "unremarkable" given the tensions between most nations in the wake of conflicts in the Balkans and the lack of away fans in Belgrade.

Then the drone with an Albanian flag overflew the stadium and was pulled down by Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic which led to the on-pitch brawl.

"I noticed that a couple of the Serbian players had tried to attract the referees attention and then everyone in the press box glanced to the right and there it was - this hovering drone dangling this flag," said Ames, who described the unfolding scene as surreal.

"Then it sort of erupted." 

Ames believes the match will be completed in a neutral venue but that Serbia, who are already "on thin ice" with UEFA could face serious repercussions for their role in the ugly scenes.

Albania could also face a strong penalty because of the drone.

But should countries with pre-existing tensions be kept apart from now on?

"It has been done before. Gibraltar and Spain were kept apart and I think there is another one in Russia and Georgia. It's very tricky and UEFA have the final say on this and UEFA have come out today and said they see no reason for Serbia and Albania to be kept apart which is very surprising given the incident," said Ames.

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