Serbia vs Albania match abandoned after drone carrying Albanian flag triggers massive brawl

The Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned after players and fans clashed on the field.

Tempers flared during a match between Serbia and Albania after a drone was flown inside the stadium carrying an Albanian flag.

The two countries have been in conflict over the province of Kosovo which used to be a part of Serbia. Kosovo is a partially recognized nation but Serbia refuse to recognize it, which is the primary cause for the political dispute between the two countries.The majority of the population in Kosovo are Albanians.

The flag even had a map of Kosovo, causing an uproar as Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic pulled down the flag. Players clashed with team officials and fans who made their way on to the pitch as teammates tried to calm things down.

A drone carrying an Albanian flag flown over the stadium.

Drone flown by Albanian Prime Minister’s brother

According to reports, the drone carrying the ‘Greater Albanian’ flag was controlled from the executive box on the stadium.

Albanian Prime Minister’s brother Olsi Rama was arrested on Tuesday night and accused of triggering the brawl that eventually led to referee Martin Atkinson making a decision to abandon the match.

It caused havoc in the stands as Serbian fans threw smoke bombs and other objects on to the pitch as the Albanian players fled towards the safety of the tunnel.

A statement on Serbian state TV’s website said: “He was arrested on suspicion that he masterminded and executed the incident in which a flag with a map of greater Albania was flown over the pitch and the terraces, after which the match between Serbia and Albania was abandoned.”

Albanian players flee towards the safety of the tunnel.

A number of Premier League players were involved like Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic, Manchester City’s Aleksandar Kolarov and Matija Nastasic and Southampton’s Dusan Tadic.

Kolarov was one of the players pleading with the fans to relax, even protecting his opponents as they exited the pitch.

Ivanovic said: “What happened is something we can't comprehend at the moment. All I can say is that we wanted to carry on.

“We shielded the Albanian players every step of the way in the tunnel.

“The Albanian team said they were unfit physically and mentally to carry on after talking to the officials,” he added.