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Editorial2025-10-11 12:54:00

Football, nationalism and the Balkan virus

Shkruar nga Kastriot Kotoni

 Football, nationalism and the Balkan virus

Football is not war. It is a game that should unite us, not turn us into crowds looking for enemies...

A football match has its own beauty when there are goals in both gates. When a goal of hope in the last minute makes an entire nation happy. Football is the pure emotion of the game, of sporting honesty and collective joy. But when politics and nationalism enter the game, as in the case of the Serbia-Albania match, that magic disappears immediately.

In those moments, the match is no longer a sporting challenge. It becomes an arena of hatred, of venting complexes and false nationalist protagonism. And you say to yourself: “Let it end as soon as possible, whether 0–0 or 5–5, as long as no one wins.”

Because the game is no longer important, but the disease that has gripped our society; that of extremist fandom, which has forgotten football and honors hatred.

Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, a Balkan man caught between two fires, will have the misfortune of refereeing not just a match, but a duel of symbols, flags and provocations. He must maintain his composure and punish with justice, so as not to allow sport to turn into a political theater. Because in the Balkans, even a foul in midfield can ignite an old war.

In the small stadium of Leskovac with 6,500 seats, two hooligans are enough to destroy the entire spirit of the game. But the responsibility is not theirs, it is the politics that inspired them. The Serbian fans, punished several times by UEFA for racist and violent behavior, are no longer a sports crowd; they are an instrument of nationalist parties that live with ethnic divisions. And this shows that the problem is not with football, but with the ideology that exploits it.

On the other hand, the Albanian national team should be the opposite example. It should play calmly, with discipline and with the awareness that it represents a nation that seeks dignity, not revenge. Our footballers should be told about self-restraint, about communicating with body language and about avoiding any provocation. Because a small gesture can become big news in the Serbian media and can hurt more than a loss.

This match has an emotional charge, but also a national responsibility. Today's Albania has a more mature national team, with players who play in strong championships, who know modern football and have no inferiority complexes. They must enter the field to win with play, not with nerves. Because today, more than ever, "attack is the best defense."

And above all, football is not war. It is a game that should unite us, not turn us into crowds looking for enemies. Real fans want goals, not burning flags. They want victories that honor, not those that divide./ Pamphlet

futbolli nacionalizmi virusi ballkanik

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