During the basketball game between North Macedonia and Romania in Kumanovo, a section of the crowd erupted in openly hateful, racist, and xenophobic chants targeting Albanians. Disturbing slogans such as “A good Albanian is a dead Albanian” and “Gas chambers for Albanians” were clearly audible, despite the presence of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and other high-ranking officials, who took no action to stop the hate speech.
First Deputy Prime Minister Izet Mexhiti strongly condemned the racist and anti-Albanian chants as a direct attack on coexistence and equality in North Macedonia. Deputy Prime Minister Arben Fetai described the behavior as a shameful betrayal of the values of respect and fair play that sport should embody, urging urgent measures to halt hate speech in stadiums.
The Democratic Union for Integration also expressed deep outrage and demanded accountability and awareness to prevent the recurrence of such divisive and racist incidents that undermine unity and peace in the region.
