When the national teams of Albania and Serbia meet at the Arena Kombëtare in Tirana on Saturday evening, it will not only be about soccer—it will also be about diplomacy, security, and memory.

The match is considered high risk, not least because of the historic drone incident in Belgrade in 2014. Albania is therefore taking extensive security measures to prevent provocations and riots.

According to Euronews Albania, around 1,500 police officers have been mobilized, including special units such as the RENEA, anti-terror units, and the “Eagles” motorcycle squad. The Serbian delegation will be accompanied by security forces throughout its stay in Albania – a measure that has been prepared in close coordination with the Albanian Ministry of the Interior.

This time, special attention is being paid to the use of state-of-the-art technology. According to the news portal Insajderi, facial recognition cameras are to be installed in the stadium to identify potential troublemakers at an early stage. In addition, anti-drone guns and jamming systems will be used. The background: During the 2014 European Championship qualifying match in Belgrade, a drone flying a “Greater Albania” flag caused a scandal and the game was abandoned – since then, matches between the two countries have been considered politically explosive.

In addition to the high police presence, the authorities are also relying on drastic regulations and penalties. According to Kicker, umbrellas, lighters, cell phone chargers, cosmetics, and any pyrotechnics are strictly prohibited in the stadium. Violations can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Anyone who enters the field or throws objects risks up to three years in prison.

Albanian authorities emphasize that the safety of all spectators is their top priority. At the same time, they are appealing to fans: “We expect this game to be played in a spirit of sporting respect,” Armando Duka, president of the Albanian Football Association, told Gazeta Express. Provocations, nationalistic slogans, or violence have “no place on the pitch or in the stands.”

Tirana will become a high-security zone on Saturday – not out of fear, but as a precautionary measure. The goal is clear: the game should be decided on the field, not in the political arena.

Image:
Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons