The power of fans - Sport should unite and not divide

2024-05-28 08:55:00, Sport CNA

Insults in chorus, flaming, verbal and physical violence, stone throwing, chairs pulled from the stadium steps... This is the most common atmosphere whenever the derby between the football teams "Tirana and Partizani" is played in the capitals.

"This conflict has its origins since the founding of the 'Partizani' club, as the players were taken against their will. There have always been historic confrontations and it is not for nothing that the derby is the most heated, which also affects the fans. Often the conflict extends even within a family, where there are different views. But I think that everything should remain within the 90 minutes, within the field of play and not go outside the stadium's steps" - says Gentian Muça, the former captain of the football club. Tirana" and currently coach of under-21s.

The power of fans - Sport should unite and not divide

Gentian Muça, former captain of the "Tirana" football club, today coach of under-21s

He remembers well the most difficult episodes on the playing field, when there were also clashes with his team's fans.

"The pressure was very great and the loss was treated as the end of the world in those years" - he remembers.

A United Nations project aims to raise awareness among young fans in the Western Balkans. Part of the project for Albania are the fans of the sports clubs "Tirana" and "Partizani". The regional initiative of the United Nations, which in Albania is implemented by UNDP and UNFPA, aims to increase tolerance and fight hate speech in the stadium.

Educating young fans

Through the project "Fans Power: Uniting for Respect", the Albanian Association of Sports Sciences (ASSA) has been able to soften the tones in the stadiums, and it intends to achieve this through the education of young fans, aged 16-26.

Florian Muca, president of ASSA

"In the beginning when we conceived the project, there were many who did not understand it. Like any innovation, it has its own challenges. But we were surprised that this idea was well embraced by young people" - says Florian Muça, president of ASSA.

No one can escape the family tradition of supporting the heart team. As in the case of Amarda Xhebrahimi, who proudly says that her family is one of the oldest Tirana families that supports "Partizan". Today she plays with the women's team of this team. She has experienced the extremity in the stadiums. both ways.

Amarda Xhebrahimi, fan of "Partizan" and soccer player with the women's team of this team

"Years ago, the fans were more educated, especially when there were women and girls in the stadium. Whereas now it has become more aggressive. The fans don't enjoy the game but insult each other," Xhebrahimi told DW.

Insults and unsportsmanlike conduct

Even Lorenc Cenameri followed the example of his grandfather and father to be an ardent fan of the "Tirana" team.

"Among the most extreme cases are breaking chairs, fighting with each other, shooting fireworks... It's more embarrassing for the mother or the sister, than for the boys, it's a little different. If there weren't such episodes, it could to spend a very beautiful 2 hours in the stadium with the family watching the game, the spectacle that is given on the field and not seeing and hearing those insults and things that are not suitable for sports" - he says.

Lorenc Cenameri, ardent fan of the "Tirana" team

Will the next Tirana-Partizani derby be quieter? Now the eyes and hope are in the youth.

"The challenges are very big, because sport is a field that should unite and not divide. So the idea of ??unity should be created in fan groups, of course supporting the teams they want but without insults and without violence" - concludes Florian Muça./ DW