UEFA charges Albania over 'provocative message' and fireworks in Euro 2024 loss to Italy

Albania's players greet supporters after a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Italy won 2-1. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Albania is facing four UEFA charges over a “provocative message” allegedly displayed by its fans and other behavior in a European Championship loss to Italy.

UEFA said Sunday that the Albanian soccer federation was facing disciplinary proceedings over the message, the throwing of objects, use of fireworks and an “invasion of the field of play”. One person entered the field of play near the end of the game, which Albania lost 2-1.

UEFA didn't say which message it objected to, only that the charge relates to “transmitting a provocative message unfit for a sports event.”

Some Albanian fans had displayed flags of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Ethnic Albanian separatists from the group fought a 1998-1999 war with Serbian forces in what was then the province of Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Serbia doesn’t recognize it as independent.

A flag depicting a map of “Greater Albania” was also displayed at the game.

The charges are the first disciplinary matters announced by UEFA at Euro 2024, which began Friday.

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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

The Associated Press