Serbian football club Red Star Belgrade has published a controversial nationalist message marking the third anniversary of the armed attack in Banjska, northern Kosovo, in which Kosovo Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed.
On its official channels, the club published the message “Eternal glory to the heroes of Banjska,” referring to the three Serbs who were killed during clashes with Kosovo Police on September 24, 2023.
Red Star also shared a photograph of a supporters’ choreography by its “Delije” fan group featuring the slogan “Mothers still give birth to Obilićs,” a reference to Miloš Obilić, a figure associated with Serbian epic tradition.
The Banjska attack began when an armed Serb group engaged Kosovo Police officers in the village of Banjska, in the municipality of Zvečan. Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed during the confrontation.
Three members of the armed group — Stefan Nedeljković, Igor Milenković and Bojan Mijailović — were also killed during the ensuing clashes.
According to reporting by BBC Serbian, Nedeljković was a Red Star supporter and a member of the club’s “Delije” supporters’ group.
The football club’s post was published on the third anniversary of the Banjska attack and has renewed scrutiny over the use of football clubs and supporter groups as platforms for political and nationalist messaging in Serbia.
Red Star has faced criticism previously this month after its official channels promoted another supporters’ choreography containing political content.
The Banjska attack remains a major source of tension between Kosovo and Serbia. Kosovo authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack and have repeatedly called for those responsible to face justice, while Serbian authorities have disputed Kosovo’s characterization of the events.
