UEFA say they will now investigate the incident

Aleksandar Kolarov helped the opposition from the pitch as fans threw objects at them

The match was abandoned after half-an-hour delay

But some fans were able to storm the field, one throwing a chair at Albanian players

Police surrounded the field in a four-deep cordon as English referee Martin Atkinson led the players off

Brother of Albanian PM arrested in VIP Box for allegedly instigating stunt

Serbia's Stefan Mitrovic pulled the flag down and was confronted by Albanian players

The flag showed a map of Kosovo and the message 'autochthonous' (indigenous)

A drone carrying the Albanian flag was flown above the pitch late in the first half

There are long-running political tensions between the two countries over the Kosovo region

UEFA banned away fans from attending the Serbia vs Albania clash at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade


Serbia's FA has reportedly called on UEFA to reward them with a 3-0 victory after their politically-charged Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania in Belgrade was abandoned and said the visitors' response to a flag being flown on to the pitch was a 'scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance'.

The match was called off after home defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled down a flag carried by a drone - leading to chaos on the field and in the stands of the Partizan Stadium and the arrest of the brother of the Albanian Prime Minister.

However, the Serbs say they gave Albania's players three chances to continue with the match but their opponents refused, and this means the hosts should get the win. They also accuse the Albanians of 'ridiculing' UEFA.

VIDEO Scroll down for footage of the drone, Kolarov as peacemaker, the police presence and pictures

Albania forward Bekim Balaj is struck by a chair thrown by a Serbian fan as tensions boiled over during the Euro 2016 qualifying clash

The flag is flown above the pitch by a drone with the message 'autochthonous', meaning indigenous and a map of Kosovo

A chair goes flying as spectators, officials and players brawl on the pitch. The controversial flag can be seen in the middle of the scrap

Balaj takes cover as a fan, who had stormed the pitch despite heavy security, tries to seize the flag as Albanian players protect it

Serbia player Stefan Mitrovic leaps to grab the flag and pull it and the drone to the ground - sparking the chaos

A Serbian FA statement said: 'We estimate that they (the Albania team) are directly guilty for the match abandonment and we expect that UEFA disciplinary bodies will register the match with 3-0 result, in favour of Serbia.

'It is a scandalous fact that the other party, with their "job well done" is ridiculing not only FA of Serbia and Serbian people but also, we dare to say, UEFA.'

The Serbian FA also claimed their their team acted with restraint despite being provoked by the 'offensive' flag and were then attacked when they tried to remove it from the field.

In a 1,500-word statement, the organisation said Albania's reaction to the controversy had been 'scandalous' and suggested it had been a 'scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance'.

The statement said: 'Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic managed to catch the flag and, as it can be clearly seen on all the footages, started to fold it as calmly as possible, in order to give it to the fourth official and for the match to be continued.

'Absolutely all of the Serbian players and officials on the bench were in their seats, calm and without any attempt to show force or rage because of the incident. However, Albanian players acted very aggressively and physically attacked Mitrovic.

'For the truth and justice we will not and do not want to allow the perpetrators who violated football to present themselves as victims.'

Nemanja Gudelj holds the flag while Albania's Balaj and Andi Lila rush forward to try and protect it

The drone struggles to fly as players and substitutes from both sides get involved in a scuffle

Southampton's Dusan Tadic is at the centre of a scuffle along with Man City's Aleksandar Kolarov (2nd left) with the flag in the middle

Chaos erupts as players from both sides fight on the pitch, as a steward tries to remove a fan who is pinned to the ground by Lorik Cana

UEFA banned Albania fans from attending the Group I clash in Belgrade but elected to allow the two countries to face each other, despite long-standing political tensions.

And when the Albanian flag - accompanied by a map of Kosovo and the message 'autochthonous', meaning indigenous - was flown above the pitch using a remote-operated drone, Mitrovic's actions led to fighting between players and officials and havoc in the stands.

Olsi Rama, the brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was arrested in the VIP box for allegedly instigating the stunt, confirmed CNN.

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,' Serbian state television said on its official website (www.rts.rs).

UEFA have also launched an inquiry into the violence.

Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo as an independent nation - an issue that is hotly disputed by Albanians who dominate the population.

English referee Martin Atkinson interrupted the match in the 41st minute after Mitrovic grabbed the flag and Albania's players tried to protect it. Several Serbian fans invaded the pitch and clashed with Albanian players.

A steward (centre) tries to maintain order as Albanian and Serbian players fight on the pitch

Albania's Burim Kukeli (centre) and a team-mate confront a pitch invader wrapped in the Serbian flag as stewards stand by

A masked Serbian supporter runs off with the drone that carried the controversial flag as players watch on in the background

English referee Martin Atkinson made the decision to take the players off

WHAT IS THE HISTORY INVOLVED IN THE SERBIA-ALBANIA ISSUE? Albanian fans were banned from attending the match between the two Balkan rival nations, due to the turbulent relations between the two. These have mainly surrounded the former ethnic Albanian-dominated Serbian province of Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but this is not recognised by Serbia, who feel the loss keenly. NATO waged a 78-day air war in 1999 to halt the killing and expulsion of more than 10,000 ethnic Albanians in Kosovo by Serbian forces fighting a two-year counter-insurgency war. Seven of Albania's squad were born in the Kosovo region. Advertisement

One invader was the notorious Serbian hooligan Ivan Bogdanov, who is part of the hardcore Red Star Belgrade fans, the Ultra Boys and of Movement 1389, a far-right nationalist group which has been involved in rioting against Kosovo Albanians and their western backers.

The Albanian players had to flee the field, followed by Serbia's XI that included the likes of Premier League stars Branislav Ivanovic, Matija Nastasic, Aleksandar Kolarov, Dusan Tadic and Nemanja Matic.

At first, the home support had cheered the flag, but once it became clear that it was Albanian the mood in the stands turned. Flares were lit, with a NATO flag burnt as supporters clashed with riot police.

Manchester City defender Kolarov was among the players who urged fans to calm down as the Albanian players fled to the tunnel, putting his arm around one opponent to help him away from the pitch.

Bizarrely, the announcer at the stadium played Cher's 'Believe' in an attempt to calm fans during the break, to no avail. After a delay of around half an hour, Atkinson abandoned the game.

UEFA delegate Harry Been told journalists: 'It is a regretful situation on which we will report; the referee, myself and the security adviser. The circumstances were such that we couldn’t continue the match.

'You all saw what happened and I cannot comment on who is to blame or what to blame. I will submit a report with my colleagues to UEFA and UEFA will decide what will happen further.'

Chelsea defender Ivanovic said: 'What happened is something we can't comprehend at the moment. All I can say I 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.

What’s most important to us is that we stood by the Albanian representation as a team and supported them. We regret that football was presented as a secondary issue here.'

Albania captain Lorik Cana went out of his way to thank Ivanovic, for protecting his team on the field.

The tie was goalless at the time of the suspension and clear-cut chances were in short supply in the Serbian capital.

A fan throws a punch at Albania's Mergim Mavraj, who appeared unconcerned, as tensions boiled over

Supporters, some dressed all in black, clashed with police and players on the pitch

A Serbian fan is escorted from the pitch by two members of the Serbian military

Zoran Tosic and Ivanovic both missed the target from the edge of the area as the hosts attempted to force the issue while Tadic's long-distance effort was well blocked by Albania defender Andi Lila.

The best chance of the game fell to the visitors as an Ansi Agolli free-kick from the left wing found Mergim Mavraj, whose shot from inside the area was tipped wide by Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

From the following corner, Lorik Cana's header at the far post sailed wide, while the visitors were appearing to gain the upper hand before the controversy erupted.

Albanian players try to take cover as they flee to the tunnel - a chair and a bottle (both ringed) can be seen being thrown towards them

The Albanian players pile into the tunnel to escape the hail of missiles, with one of the electronic advertising hoardings knocked over

Riot police try to contain the home fans after fighting broke (it is not known if the fans in this picture were involved in the disorder)

Riot police attempt to contain fans in the stands of the Partizan Stadium. The match was abandoned after a half-hour delay

A line of riot police attempt to contain rioting Serbian supporters after the match was finally abandoned following a 30-minute delay

Some spectators tried to storm the police lines as the disorder continued in the stands

Fans roll a barrel towards lines of police as the disorder spread to the stands at the Partizan Stadium

A firefighter carries a Serbian flag that had been thrown over the barriers as fans can be seen trying to climb the fence behind them

A line of riot police around the perimeter of the pitch eventually managed to restore calm

A flare is lit among the Serbian crowd (it is not known whether the fans shown in this picture were involved in the disorder)

Chelsea defender Ivanovic (second right) watches on as the Albanian players seize the flag

Riot police and fans clash in the stands before the game was abandoned (it is not known whether the fans shown were involved)

WHAT WAS THE FLAG ALL ABOUT? The double-headed eagle, as featured on the Albanian flag, is imposed upon so-called 'Greater Albania' where ethnic Albanians live. The word 'Autochthonous' refers to Serbia's alleged attempts to control Kosovo despite not being indigenous to the region. The man on the left is Ismail Qemal, founder of the Albanian national movement, and of the modern Albanian state as its first head of state and government. On the right is Isa Boletini, a nationalist figure who fought in the Albanian Revolt in Kosovo in 1910 and later in World War I against Serbia. Advertisement

Serbia fans burn a NATO flag during the Group I qualifying game (it is not known whether the fans shown in this picture were involved)

The score was 0-0 in Belgrade when the drone appeared trailing the flag

The flag that was flown over the stadium in Belgrade appeared on Twitter on Tuesday night

One supporter tries to protect himself from the riot police who moved into the stand as tensions boiled over

Fans clashed with police as havoc took hold (it is not known whether the fans shown in this picture were involved in the disorder)

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic sidesteps a challenge from Ansi Agolli before his club-mate Ivanovic walked off, head bowed

Serbian supporters wave their flags on what was a heated night in Belgrade

Kosovo Albanians cheer and light flares as they watch the match on giant public screen in Kosovo

Serbia supporters head towards the stadium ahead of the game with what appears to be a flare

Serbia supporters chant before the qualifier - it is not known whether the fans shown in this picture were involved in the disorder

Thousands of Kosovan Albanians watch the action on a giant screen in Pristina, Kosovo

The incident prompted hundreds of Albanian fans to spill out onto the streets of their capital Tirana in a show of solidarity

The Albanian flag is waved in the centre of Tirana as fans took to the streets in response to the events in Belgrade