13 October 2010

SERBIA: Are Its Soccer Thugs Impeding EU Membership?

GUARDIAN/ Ian Traynor :  
    "For the second time in three days Serbian thugs have laid waste to a European city in riots that have combined wanton and random violence with organizational talent and political backing. Yesterday in Genoa, the Scottish referee Craig Thomson had first to delay the kick-off for the Euro 2012 qualifier between Italy and Serbia by 45 minutes because of fans' rioting, and then call the game off after seven minutes. Earlier the angry young men from Belgrade went on the rampage in the Mediterranean port and Uefa have opened a "full and thorough" investigation into the incidents."
AND:"... the hooligans have been a fixture of Serbian life for decades, often used and abused by ruthless politicians, warlords and organized crime."

Plus, there's the recent ugliness in Belgrade as over 6,000 skinheads and nationalists attacked the first gay parade. That demonstration saw over 250 arrested and 150 injured.

A legitimate question is...would you want people with such uncivilized behavior in your political and economic union?