A Europa League play-off match between Lille OSC and Crvena zvezda, held at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, was overshadowed by political messages displayed by a group of home supporters, shifting attention away from the game and toward political tensions.
Although the stadium was not completely full, a group of Lille’s most passionate fans unveiled a banner depicting Kosovo as part of Serbia, accompanied by a sign reading “No surrender.” The message, widely interpreted as politically charged and provocative, reignited sensitive national issues during an international sporting event.
The incident quickly drew criticism on social media, where many users described it as an unacceptable mixing of sport with nationalism and political symbolism that could fuel tensions and hateful rhetoric.
Meanwhile, the Serbian club responded on the platform X with a short message in French — “Merci!” — thanking the home supporters, a reaction that further intensified online debate about the incident and its implications beyond football.
