Two more Celtic fans have been brutally attacked in Belgrade after another was sent to hospital following a similar incident. This all comes ahead of the match between Brendan Rodgers’ side and Red Star Belgrade.
That’s according to Serbian newspaper Telegraf, who cover the situation in two separate reports today amid ongoing attacks on Celtic fans in the city.
The first explains that there was another ‘brutal attack’ on Celtic fans in Belgrade, with two attacked after an incident last night saw one end up in hospital.
The beaten fans were admitted to the Clinical Hospital Center “Zemun” after the incident, where ‘they are conscious and in a stable condition.’ They were attacked by young men wearing red and white scarves, who authorities suspect were Red Star fans. The victims had been targeted as they were wearing t-shirts with the Celtic badge.
The attackers fled the scene but were soon found by police. Two men, aged 37 and 28, have been arrested and detained for up to 48 hours. The prosecutor’s office have been informed about the case.
The second report explains a clash at around 11pm last night in the centre of Belgrade. This ‘chaotic clash’ caused panic and fear among the surrounding bars, and one Celtic fan was ‘seriously injured’. He’s in hospital with severe head injuries.
Telegraf report that Celtic fans were sitting in a restaurant when masked men approached them. Witness say they were Red Star fans.
“They sat down to have dinner when the throwing started, and then chaos ensued,” one witness explained.
“They rushed at them and started beating them. I ran away from the table to get away from them, and most of the guests fell under the table in fear!
“It was terrifying, people were screaming, running, there was general panic! It was not clear who was hitting whom or with what… I felt like the fight had lasted for a long time, but in reality, it ended in almost a minute. The unfortunate Celtic fan fell to the pavement, and the attackers fled.”
The fight reportedly involved about fifteen attackers, but eyewitnesses say at least four were attacking the Celtic fan who was taken to hospital.
“He had hematomas on his head, and workers from the surrounding bars immediately ran to him and tried to provide him with first aid. Someone even brought ice, but the unfortunate man lost consciousness. His eyes just rolled back,” the witness detailed.
An investigation is now ongoing after the attackers fled the scene one police had arrived. Video surveillance footage is being collected in the hope of identifying them.
Issues in Serbia have been common over the years, with Celtic urging their fans not to wear shirts in public today. The witness is accustomed to such incidents, explaining that the chaos caused plenty of confusion.
“You don’t even realise how they behave, I come here to rest after a hard day, and they shout, throw napkins… I won’t even talk about the toilets!” he concluded.
“Little by little, they fight, this was last night around 10:45 pm, I’m not sure exactly, it was so chaotic that you couldn’t even see what exactly they were being beaten with.”
