The Albanian Ambassador to North Macedonia, Denion Meidani, has reacted to the recent incident in Kumanovo, where a basketball game was overshadowed by racist chants.
“Hate speech has no place in sports, nor in society,” he stated in his public declaration on the event, calling for a strong institutional response.
“The offensive chants in Kumanovo are an alarm bell for all of us. Coexistence requires daily commitment, respect for the rules of the game and for one another — not only in the stands, but everywhere. I am closely monitoring institutional reactions and expect North Macedonia’s highest authorities to respond clearly, firmly, and responsibly,” the ambassador wrote.
During the basketball match between North Macedonia and Romania, held at the Kumanovo sports hall, hate speech and racist slogans targeting Albanians were heard.
Despite the audibility of the chants, state officials present at the scene did not intervene to stop them.
“Let the damned Albanians understand, the Macedonian name will never disappear. A pure Macedonia, pure, pure,” shouted part of the crowd in the stands.
High-level state figures were in attendance, including Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Kumanovo Mayor Maksim Dimitrievski, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pancho Toshkovski, and Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoilkovic.
The chants and slogans continued throughout the game. Among the most shocking were, “The only good Albanian is a dead Albanian,” and “Gas chambers for Albanians,” a chilling reference to the atrocities committed against Jews during World War II.
