The Latest on Red Star — Detentions, Fines and More

I wrote a bit about this on the front page over the weekend, but just to sum up, Zoran Damjanović, director of stadium Miodrag Ćorović, security commissioner Novica Mijušković, and Rade Popović (the Serbian Football Association rep at the Red Star ground during the violence) are all going to be held for at least the next month while investigations take place. According to police, the investigations concern both the violence at the Hajduk Kula match and the club’s financial dealings, probably involving recent transfers that may or may not have been conducted above board.

The rumor mill, though, says it’s much more than that, and suggests former president Dragan Stojković collaborated with Damjanović to instigate the violence (!), hoping it would “create trouble for new Red Star president Toplica Spasojeviić and his team.” Additionally, there are reports of organized crime connections for Red Star, and crimes ranging from money laundering to tax evasion to “white slavery.” It’s alleged that Red Star are not alone in these crimes, though, and that both Partizan and various figures in the FSS are next in line to be investigated. Jesus. (I’m assuming the white slavery thing has to do with not paying players, and selling them in shady ways. If it’s more than that, I’m officially really, really freaked out.)

I’ve learned about 1.5% of what I need to know about Serbia football, but even with my very limited knowledge, none of this (apart from the white slavery thing) really surprises me. What I don’t understand is why it’s being investigated now — did all of the attention come out of the attack on Nebojša Trajković? That seems unlikely, at least in terms of the financial issues, but what would have motived it otherwise? Is it something to do with Piksi’s resignation? Or, though it seems almost impossible, is it motivated by nothing more than a desire for justice? Yeah. I doubt that, too.

In simple, stadium news, it’s being reported that Red Star will play their next three home matches (including the Belgrade Derby in February) behind closed doors, and also will have to pay a fine of 500,000 dinars for the violence during the Hajduk Kula match. (I’m assuming they can and will appeal.)