The Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, has strongly condemned the racist chants targeting Albanians during a basketball match between North Macedonia and Romania held in Kumanovo.
In a statement shared on social media, Spiropali described the incident as “unacceptable”, stressing that it serves as a reminder that building a fair and inclusive society demands constant commitment.
“The hateful language that incites violence, ethnic conflict and racism has no place in any public space — especially not in sport, which by its very nature embodies unity, cooperation, fair play and mutual respect,” Spiropali stated.
The Speaker praised the initial response of North Macedonian institutions but called for stronger and clearer action from the country’s highest authorities.
“Yesterday’s incident in Kumanovo, where a basketball game was stained by extremely offensive and exclusionary chants against Albanians, is unacceptable,” she wrote. “It is a reminder that the road to a fair, inclusive society based on mutual respect requires unwavering effort.”
Call for Interethnic Harmony and a European Vision
Spiropali emphasized that interethnic coexistence is a shared value on North Macedonia’s European path and must be protected and strengthened responsibly.
“Proper conduct — on the court, in the stands and in institutions — speaks volumes about our vision for the future,” she said. “Albania and Albanians remain firmly committed to promoting model coexistence and moving beyond outdated divisions.”
She concluded her statement by reaffirming Albania’s dedication to fostering an inclusive society and rejecting divisive rhetoric.
The Incident
The incident took place on August 2 at the Kumanovo Sports Hall during a FIBA qualification match between North Macedonia and Romania. Allegedly, the chants — reportedly coming from the fan group “Kumani” — included slogans such as: “Let the cursed Albanians understand, the name Macedonia will not disappear. A pure Macedonia.”
The racist outbursts occurred in the presence of senior state officials, including Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoillković, Interior Minister Panče Toshkovski, and Kumanovo’s Mayor Maksim Dimitrievski.
According to sporting regulations, fans should have been warned and referees should have considered suspending or cancelling the match. However, match officials — Georgios Poursanidis (Greece), Yeren Yilmaz (Turkey) and Ventsislav Velikov (Bulgaria) — apparently were unaware of the chants’ content.
The entire incident was broadcast live on FIBA’s official YouTube channel, sparking widespread concern about tolerance and behaviour at sporting events.
