The final series of the ProCredit Superleague in basketball between Bashkimi and Trepça has dangerously escalated beyond sports rivalry, with commentators Agon Fehmiu and Ulpiana Emra becoming targets of severe insults and threats. The situation reached a breaking point after offensive and threatening messages were sent through their personal social media accounts and the website AsistiOnline. Today, these cases were officially reported to the Kosovo Police, and an investigation has been opened for threats made against an official during the execution of duty.
Although the initial intent of reporting was simply to document the threats and serve as a warning, law enforcement institutions have taken the matter with utmost seriousness and are now pursuing legal action against the perpetrators. The behavior of some so-called “fans” (read: hooligans) has gone too far. What was once passionate support for clubs has now turned into uncontrolled frustration and irrational accusations against commentators, depending on which team loses. When Bashkimi loses, Fehmiu and Emra are called Trepça fans; when Trepça loses, they are accused of favoring Bashkimi—as if commentators can influence the scoreboard.
This madness has gone as far as physical aggression. During game 3 on May 11 in Prizren, while objects were being thrown due to the suspension of center Michael Myers, commentator Agon Fehmiu was hit in the back by a half-full water bottle. Fehmiu chose not to react publicly, stating, “It wasn’t a strong hit, and I have experience with incidents like this. I didn’t want to make a big fuss, so I stayed quiet.” Then, in game 4 on May 14 in Mitrovica, after the match ended, as Ulpiana Emra was getting up to conduct post-game interviews, a spectator struck the plexiglass barrier, which ended up hitting her. Fortunately, the barrier absorbed most of the impact.
These incidents pushed broadcaster Artmotion to formally request the Kosovo Basketball Federation (FBK) and KB Bashkimi to increase security measures before game 5 on May 18 in Prizren, including the installation of plexiglass protection and the presence of a police officer near the commentary team throughout the match. The request was honored, and thanks go to the leadership of KB Bashkimi and FBK for responding swiftly and responsibly.
Unfortunately, following Trepça’s recent loss, hateful and threatening messages surged again. These messages came from personal accounts, anonymous profiles, and Facebook pages that are known for spreading toxic content. Some posts were public, others sent privately, targeting both Fehmiu and Emra with the worst kind of verbal abuse. These threats have been documented and delivered to the police. The prosecution has already opened a case and is taking the appropriate legal steps against those involved.
This entire situation is not just shameful, it is dangerous. Agon Fehmiu is a respected figure in Kosovo’s post-war sports journalism. He modernized sports commentary and played a central role in transforming basketball into Kosovo’s most popular sport. To threaten and insult such a figure is nothing less than a disgrace. The same applies to Ulpiana Emra the first and only female basketball commentator in the history of Kosovo. A former player for the national team, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field, and now she too is a target of vulgar hate and threats. It is disgusting.
It is hoped that, beyond police and prosecutors, media monitoring bodies and defenders of press freedom will also address the growing wave of online hate coming from certain individuals and so-called media platforms. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) is also expected to take a stance. This is no longer about sports it’s about dignity, safety, and respect for professionals who have given everything to promote Kosovo’s basketball and media landscape.
