Fans threw bottles filled with gravel at players and referees; Vushtrri faces punishment

The Kosovo First League derby between Vushtrri and Liria did not take place in a sporting spirit.

There were protests against the referees’ decisions during the match and complaints from both sides after the game..

However, what happened in the stands was truly shameful.

The Kosovo Super League and First League Competition Committee has in fact initiated disciplinary proceedings against FC Vushtrri over the numerous violations it found during Saturday’s match.

In its official report, the Competition Committee states that after the game Liria’s players remained on the pitch for a full 20 minutes because Vushtrri fans threw objects, including bottles filled with gravel.

“In the first minute of the match, pyrotechnic devices (smoke bombs) were thrown onto the field, causing the game to be stopped for about 30 seconds. In the 50th and 74th minutes, several plastic bottles were thrown onto the field. In the 84th minute, after KF Liria scored a goal, some Vushtrri fans reacted by throwing stones, matches and hard objects at the coach and the KF Liria bench. After the match ended, plastic bottles filled with gravel, stones, matches and other hard objects were thrown from the western stand at the referees and KF Liria’s players, along with numerous verbal insults and abuse. As a result, the referees and players remained on the field for about 20 minutes,” the Competition Committee’s statement reads.

The statement also mentions Vushtrri captain Daut Maxhuni for his conduct, and he too is expected to be punished, just like his club.

“After the match ended, the player deliberately struck and damaged the production’s central microphone, rendering it unusable. As a result, the production team was unable to continue using the damaged microphone,” the Committee further reports.