Alarm mood in Vienna: Fan riots threaten to Albania-Serbia!

Alarm mood in Vienna: Fan riots threaten to Albania-Serbia!

Ottakringer Straße, 1160 Wien, Österreich - In a few days it will be "Albania against Serbia" again, and the anticipation for the World Cup qualification game is great, not only among the fans. However, a shadow hovers over the upcoming duel, because the last arguments of the two teams have often ended in riots. The game will be played on Saturday, June 7, 2025, but the effects are already felt in Vienna. My district reports of possible riots.

The Ottakringer Straße in Vienna has proven to be a hot plaster during such duels in the past. Memories of mass tumult in 2014 are still fresh-at that time there was a tangible meeting in Belgrade when a drone flew into the stadium with a "Großalbania" flag. In recent years, for example during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a defeat of Serbia against Switzerland, there have been riots again. In Vienna, even after an incident in 2015, in which Serbia won 2-0 in Albania, the streets were restless.

riot risk recognized

The police are well prepared and also recognized the mobilization potential. It is probably no coincidence that around 200 additional police officers are available in the federal capital, not only for the game between Austria and Romania, but also to secure the situation in the case of unrest that could be triggered by the fans of the two rival nations.

The economic differences of the two football nations should not be underestimated. While Albania is equipped with an overall market value of 108.55 million euros, its opponents bring Serbia to a proud 245.90 million euros. The average market values ​​also speak a clear language: Albania has 4.02 million euros, while Serbia is 10.25 million euros. These figures show that not only football is played here, but also the willpower and the pride of the nations are at stake. Transfermarkt has taken the current values ​​closely.

conflicts in football

The arguments about football games are not just an Austrian phenomenon. A judgment of the Bremen Higher Administrative Court shows that even in Germany, responsibility for police operations in high -risk games is always under discussion. As the Würzburger reports, the organizers may have to arise for the exorbitant costs, which are due to violent riots arise. A security effort that Austria's police could also face with challenges if the situation on Ottakringer Strasse escalates.