Serbia-Albania match declared high-risk

The Serbian Football Federation (FSS) has decided that for the match against Albania, which will be played in Leskovac on October 11 and counts for Group K of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, no tickets will be sold to its own fans.

In the FSS announcement, it was stated that in accordance with FIFA’s assessment, the guidelines of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, consultations with UEFA, and above all the bad experience from the previous match that was interrupted in 2014 — which caused the team to miss the European Championship — the FSS Emergency Committee decided that for the upcoming Serbia vs. Albania match, to be held on October 11 at the ‘Dubočica’ stadium in Leskovac, no tickets will be available for sale, CE Report quotes ATA.

According to the FSS, attendance in the stands will be ensured through ticket distribution to the football community via regional offices of the Federation, including clubs, football school students and their parents, professional organizations and football associations, official sponsors, FSS invitees, accredited media representatives, as well as medical teams and other groups necessary for the proper conduct of the match.

According to the full statement from the Serbian Football Federation, “Entry to the stadium will only be allowed with strictly personalized tickets and inspection of an identification document (ID card or passport), as well as strict security checks at the entrance, fully in accordance with the highest safety standards.”

“We remind the public that in October 2014, the match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade was interrupted, which led to severe consequences for our national team, including the loss of qualification for the 2016 European Championship in France. For this reason, the Serbian Football Federation, together with UEFA, FIFA, and all other competent institutions, is taking all necessary measures to ensure maximum safety and the proper conduct of the match,” the announcement continued.

“We remind you that the Serbia vs. Albania match has been declared by all competent institutions — FIFA, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, and the Serbian Football Federation — as a match with the highest security risk. Especially for this case, FIFA is sending up to two security officers to Leskovac, and no visiting fans will be allowed in the stands, in accordance with safety instructions and with the aim of maintaining order and the security of all participants in this event,” the statement emphasized.

“The Serbian Football Federation calls on all participants to contribute with their behavior to a fair and sporting environment, so that the Serbian national team can have the conditions to achieve the best possible result on the field,” the FSS announcement concluded.