Serbian Soccer Team Penalized for Stadium Display of Orthodox Icon
UEFA fines Red Star Belgrade over fans’ Orthodox icon display, sparking debate on religious expression in sports.
BELGRADE — Serbian soccer team FC Crvena Zvezda, also known as Red Star Belgrade, has been fined $110,000 by the Union of European Football Associations’ Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) following a Europa League match on February 26 at Rajko Mitić Stadium. The decision, issued March 25, cited multiple fan-related incidents.
During the match against LOSC Lille, supporters from the group Delije Sever staged a a coordinated stadium display featuring an image of St. Simeon the Myrrh-flowing, the 12th-century founder of the Serbian state. A banner reading “May our faith lead you to victory” accompanied the display. UEFA cited the display under disciplinary regulations for “transmitting a message that is not fit for a sports event” and “bringing football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute,” resulting in a combined fine of $46,000.
The remaining $63,800 covered other violations, including lighting fireworks, throwing objects, and blocking passageways. Red Star lost the match 0–2, exiting the competition 1–2 on aggregate. Greek MEP Emmanouil Fragkos raised concerns about selective enforcement of UEFA rules toward public displays of the Orthodox Faith.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Serbian Patriarch appealed to world leaders over Kosovo law.
