Red Star Belgrade fans displayed Ratko Mladić's šajkača cap and sang songs in his honor during the match against Novi Pazar. They also raised a banner aimed at President Vučić, criticizing him for his meeting with Zelensky.
The football match of the 4th round of the Serbian SuperLiga between Red Star Belgrade and Novi Pazar, played on August 8, 2026, at Belgrade's Rajko Mitić Stadium, will be remembered for the scandalous choreography by the home fans. The Delije, Red Star's supporters, staged a performance glorifying convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić.
On the north stand of the stadium, where the most fervent supporters are located, the Delije created a choreography featuring the recognizable Serbian military cap, the šajkača, which is associated with Ratko Mladić. At the same time, offensive chants rang out across the stand, paying tribute to a man convicted by the International Court in The Hague for war crimes.
According to footage from the scene, fans chanted the lyrics: "Ratko Mladić ravaged Bosnia, f***ed all your mothers, you're all Serbs and everyone knows it, never forget."
The scandalous act was not limited to glorifying a war criminal. The Delije then raised a banner with a direct message to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The text on the banner read: "While you host a Nazi in Belgrade, Serbs bleed on crucified Kosovo!"
The message clearly refers to Vučić's recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom the fans insultingly characterized, linking this diplomatic event to the situation in Kosovo.
This event is yet another in a series of incidents in the stands of Rajko Mitić Stadium, where messages that go beyond the scope of sports cheering are often displayed. The glorification of a person legally convicted of the most serious war crimes has caused outrage in the regional public and raised questions about the responsibility of club and federation structures for what happens in the stands.
Photos and videos of the shameful choreography quickly spread on social media and in regional media. The author of the photos documenting the event, Bane T. Stojanović, is credited by agencies ATAImages and PIX.
