Football Thread!

[sydney]

Football fans may be familiar with Panini and its football cards and stickers over the years. The Euro 2020 album is out and obviously “North Macedonia” is represented. An interesting section is the Fans. Here is Macedonia’s fan sticker:

[Soldier of Macedon]

Great picture. Pathetic moniker. Macedonia, the quintessential battleground between good and evil.

[Soldier of Macedon]

That was quick. In the battle of the elites (millionaires who run FIFA vs millionaire club owners for the ESL), the fans have handed the victory to the former, so the status quo wins, like Barnes indicates on the clip in the link. That the fans, smaller clubs and FIFA/UEFA happened to be on the same side is coincidental and for different reasons. Now FIFA can continue with their agenda and exploitation, until the next time.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56824628

The biggest clubs on the continent quit the Champions League, then returned, humiliated and apologetic in fewer than 48 hours. In between they were hit with a whirlwind of vitriol, the anger and criticism coming in wave after wave. Eventually it was too much, and the project crumbled.......Both Ceferin and Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino have emerged stronger by attacking a concept that very quickly failed. Whether that co-operation, first in evidence at the start of the pandemic when football stopped, continues remains to be seen - because Infantino wants to progress with his expanded Club World Cup model. Uefa has been uneasy about that prospect because it could undermine the popularity of the Champions League.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Violent scenes tonight at the football game between Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney [Croatia] United in Australia:

https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/footbal...c7Dhb9WexL2NOk

https://www.news.com.au/sport/footba...9c3e0e450379f5

[Karposh]

Not a good look at all to be honest. Shameful behaviour by the Croatian fans. What I find strange and confusing is why this happened at all. Weren't we meant to be on friendly terms with the Croatians in this country (and in general)? Why did they decide to travel to Ilinden's home ground and go out of their way to pick a fight with Macedonians? The police have released photos of three people they are after and, I can tell you, they weren't wearing Macedonian colours or symbols. These guys were dressed in black with, what I assume to be, some kind of Ustasha symbols on their clothing and hats.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Originally Posted by Karposh

Not a good look at all to be honest. Shameful behaviour by the Croatian fans. What I find strange and confusing is why this happened at all. Weren't we meant to be on friendly terms with the Croatians in this country (and in general)? Why did they decide to travel to Ilinden's home ground and go out of their way to pick a fight with Macedonians? The police have released photos of three people they are after and, I can tell you, they weren't wearing Macedonian colours or symbols. These guys were dressed in black with, what I assume to be, some kind of Ustasha symbols on their clothing and hats.

My understanding is that the clubs hate eachother due to onfield occurrances, nothing to do with ethnicity. I believe it started around 2016 due to an incident between players that then involved fans and since then there has been conflict between the two clubs. What probably adds to it is that they are two of the better-supported teams in that league so naturally a rivalry is going to emerge, especially with both clubs being top 5 sides.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Fans from both clubs banned from attending games until the police investigation is concluded:

https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2021/04/2...jRq1Wrcg2bDLGs

[Momce Makedonce]

Just in regard to the Rockdale-Sydney United incident, there had been a number of issues between the two supporter groups over the years (Komiti and SUS), so it wasn't really suprising or out of the blue. The SUS lot in particular are quite mrdnati and Ustashi sympathisers.

Issues started between the two way back in about 2014 and it has just escalated from there, from what I hear the Croatians started it back then and are generally always the instigators which I saw first hand at a Rockdale vs Sydney United FFA clash a few years ago. The SUS group don't have a good track record in general when it comes to incidents, they look to start trouble.

In saying that I don't have anything against Croatians and generally find them respectful. So it makes the Rockdale vs Sydney Utd rivalry a bit strange. Not sure if it's a result of these incidents or some of these Macedonians being pro Serbs, but there seems to be some that have taken quite an animosity for Croatians. I guess a natural response but its important to note that it's a minority it seems.

Interestingly enough a mere couple of weeks before the Rockdale incident I was at a Bankstown City Lions vs Sydney United FFA Cup match at the Sydney United Sports Centre and there were no issues, couple of the Croatians (were standing with SUS but not sure if part of them) were having a chat to us after we beat them in an upset. The Bankstown boys 'Lions Pride Sydney' were pretty tight with the Sydney United supporter group in the 2000's.

But anyway the incident happened and the people responsible have been charged last I heard. Most importantly there were no serious injuries and everyone has recovered.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Sometimes these hooligans look for any excuse to provoke the opposing supporters, so it wouldn't surprise me if some dumb Macedonians shouted anti-Croat slogans that are typically used by some dumb Serbs, because in the clip I also heard some dumb Croats shouting anti-Serb slogans. All in all, there were probably morons on both sides. I agree that the incident does seem strange. I haven't attended a Preston game in a while, but the last time I went, they were playing against some Greek team, and there were Croats with their flags among the Macedonian supporters and unsurprisingly Serbs among the Greeks.

[Risto the Great]

I've come across Macedonians who feel close kindred to Serbs. I can imagine some might feel compelled to defend Serbian honour against Croatians. Wonders never cease. I'd categorise that as something akin to being an abused housewife looking for love in all the wrong places.

Croatians and Macedonians are natural allies.