by Our Sports Desk

Albania claimed yesterday that their players were assaulted by fans, stewards and police in Belgrade at Euro 2016 qualifier against Serbia which was abandoned following the violence.

Uefa charged both countries on Wednesday night with a number of offences following the game, which saw a melee erupt on the pitch after a small drone trailed a pro-Albania flag over the stadium.

Serbia have claimed the incident had been a “scenario of a terrorist action planned in advance,” but the Albanian FA claim its team was targeted even before the game, when stones were thrown at the bus and its delegation and players were hit by a piece of concrete and other missiles during the warm-up.

A statement from the Albanian FA said: “For the entire duration of warm-up, the offensive chants of 30,000 strong repeated: ‘Kill the Albanians’ and ‘Death to Albanians’.”

The fighting began after a Serbian player hauled down the flag from the drone and English referee Martin Atkinson took the players off the pitch. Albania then refused to consider returning even if the stadium was cleared of fans.

The statement added: “Making their way to the dressing rooms, in the tunnel, Albania players were repeatedly hit by Serbia supporters, security personnel and the police.”

Both countries are likely to be handed heavy fines and other sanctions, including possible points deductions, when Uefa’s disciplinary body hears the case on October 23.

Albania face forfeiting the match and Serbia playing future games behind closed doors but Uefa is not expected to expel the countries from the competition.

Uefa president Michel Platini described the incidents which followed the drone trailing a flag of Greater Albania — which incorporates parts of various other countries including Kosovo — over the the Partizan Stadium pitch as “inexcusable.”

Albanian supporters had been banned from entering the stadium by Uefa on safety grounds and the match took place amid tight security.