Football riots Široki Brijeg-Sarajevo
Encyclopedia
Football riots Široki Brijeg-Sarajevo refers to the riots involving football clubs NK Široki Brijeg
and FK Sarajevo
. During the riot members of Horde Zla committed huge damage and wounded couple citizens of Široki Brijeg. One member of Horde Zla has been wounded and subsequently died.
These were the greatest riots ever in Široki Brijeg and the greatest riots in independent Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to records from surveillance cameras it can be seen that members of Horde zla were leaving their bus carrying guns. According to some witnesses they were not checked when entering the Široki Brijeg and were seen carrying bat and knives.
Horde Zla , who are predominately Bosniaks blamed predominately Croat local residents and police for attacks on away supporters that included shootings. Horde Zla claim that the incident was planned by "local politicians," saying that their buses were separated, all the injured were from the first bus, and that the buses were parked in the center of the town instead of at the usual visitors’ entrance to the stadium. The records from the surveillance cameras, however contradict them. They also say that there were only 30 local policemen present, and they did nothing to prevent the violence. Local police and residents said Sarajevo football fans were the first to attack. According to local police officials, most of the regional police had earlier been sent to the nearby city of Mostar to prevent possible violence during the match between the rival Zrinjski and Velež clubs scheduled for the same day.
Some 500 fans of the Sarajevo football club arrived in Široki Brijeg
. Later evidence showed that between 150 and 200 members of the Red Army (supporters of FK Velež) arrived to Široki Brijeg instead staying in Mostar. According to Croatian media, members of Horde zla have a history of making riots in Posušje
.
Moreover, prior the Bosnian war Horde Zla were involved in couple riots. In September 1990 they had a conflict in Belgrade and they stabbed 2 members of Grobari (supporters of FK Partizan) .
31 people were injured in the riots, 6 of them heavily. One member of FK Sarajevo, named Vedran Puljić (who appeared to be a child from mixed marriage ) , was shot and subsequently died. According to Zlatko Galić, the chief of West Herzegovina County police, Vedran Puljić had criminal record for multiple law violations related to hooliganism. Police arrested Oliver Knežović as a suspect of shooting Vedran Puljić. Knežović is believed to be a former member of Kažnjenička Bojna unit of HVO
. He reportedly fired at the FK Sarajevo supporters using a Kalashnikov automatic rifle. Knežović escaped from prison only hours after he was apprehended. Eight Široki Brijeg policemen were detained for allegedly allowing the escape of Oliver Knežović.
Oliver Knežović fled to Zagreb
, Croatia, where he would not be extradited to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as there is no agreement on this issue between the two countries. He gave an interview for a local TV network, asserting his innocence. After the interview Knežović surrendered to a Zagreb police station with his lawyer. An autopsy revealed that Puljić was killed by a bullet from a police pistol. Knežović reportedly had been shooting from an AK 47.
Citing unnamed police sources, some media reported that Knežović took the pistol from the detained officer before shooting Puljić. The reports allege that Knežović took the pistol from the policeman and shot Puljić with it. Knežović said that he had returned the pistol to the policeman and identified himself. He later came to the police station, but escaped after getting the impression that police were searching for a scapegoat. The policeman Dragan Vujović was also taken into custody. Citing unnamed police sources, some media reports claimed Vujović is only being investigated as a murder accomplice. Other media reports said that Vujović's hands had tested positive for gunpowder residue, which he purportedly claimed was due to his coming into contact with the large quantities of fireworks used that day. Some reports claim that the policeman has failed a polygraph test in relation to the event.
(total number was cca 3 thousand) protested because of the violence committed by Horde zla
.Miro Kraljević has addressed to the audience giving them his support. The official presenter of Škripari has read list of requests to the authorities of West Herzegovina county.
Protesters have gathered in front the West Herzegovina county headquarters. They have been blaming them for suspected hooligans releasing.
The protester have left the scene after the speech of Stanko Škorba, president of Union of handicapped people from Homeland war. Škorba told them that ministry of internal affairs has accepted their requests.Although , he said, if the confirmation that Horde Zla came to make riots not being given officially by the authorities , on Thursday, October 9 , 2009. demonstrations will be repeated. .
NK Široki Brijeg
NK Široki Brijeg is a Bosnian-Herzegovinian team from the town of Široki Brijeg that currently plays in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
and FK Sarajevo
FK Sarajevo
FK Sarajevo is a professional football club based in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina and is one of the most popular clubs in the country. Founded on October 24, 1946, the club was the most successful club from SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in former Yugoslavia, winning two First League...
. During the riot members of Horde Zla committed huge damage and wounded couple citizens of Široki Brijeg. One member of Horde Zla has been wounded and subsequently died.
These were the greatest riots ever in Široki Brijeg and the greatest riots in independent Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The riots
There are conflicting reports about who started the violence. Members of Horde Zla were supposed to be placed at the east side of the stadium. During checking at some of them were found arms.According to records from surveillance cameras it can be seen that members of Horde zla were leaving their bus carrying guns. According to some witnesses they were not checked when entering the Široki Brijeg and were seen carrying bat and knives.
Horde Zla , who are predominately Bosniaks blamed predominately Croat local residents and police for attacks on away supporters that included shootings. Horde Zla claim that the incident was planned by "local politicians," saying that their buses were separated, all the injured were from the first bus, and that the buses were parked in the center of the town instead of at the usual visitors’ entrance to the stadium. The records from the surveillance cameras, however contradict them. They also say that there were only 30 local policemen present, and they did nothing to prevent the violence. Local police and residents said Sarajevo football fans were the first to attack. According to local police officials, most of the regional police had earlier been sent to the nearby city of Mostar to prevent possible violence during the match between the rival Zrinjski and Velež clubs scheduled for the same day.
Some 500 fans of the Sarajevo football club arrived in Široki Brijeg
Široki Brijeg
-Name:The name of the city means "the wide hill" in Croatian . The city is also sometime referred to as "Široki Brig" and among the inhabitants of Herzegovina simply as "Široki" . Between 1945 and 1990, the name was officially Lištica, after the river that flows through it.-Geography:The river...
. Later evidence showed that between 150 and 200 members of the Red Army (supporters of FK Velež) arrived to Široki Brijeg instead staying in Mostar. According to Croatian media, members of Horde zla have a history of making riots in Posušje
Posušje
Posušje is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in the West Herzegovina Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity.-Name:...
.
Moreover, prior the Bosnian war Horde Zla were involved in couple riots. In September 1990 they had a conflict in Belgrade and they stabbed 2 members of Grobari (supporters of FK Partizan) .
31 people were injured in the riots, 6 of them heavily. One member of FK Sarajevo, named Vedran Puljić (who appeared to be a child from mixed marriage ) , was shot and subsequently died. According to Zlatko Galić, the chief of West Herzegovina County police, Vedran Puljić had criminal record for multiple law violations related to hooliganism. Police arrested Oliver Knežović as a suspect of shooting Vedran Puljić. Knežović is believed to be a former member of Kažnjenička Bojna unit of HVO
Croatian Defence Council
The Croatian Defence Council was a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War.-History:...
. He reportedly fired at the FK Sarajevo supporters using a Kalashnikov automatic rifle. Knežović escaped from prison only hours after he was apprehended. Eight Široki Brijeg policemen were detained for allegedly allowing the escape of Oliver Knežović.
Oliver Knežović fled to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia, where he would not be extradited to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as there is no agreement on this issue between the two countries. He gave an interview for a local TV network, asserting his innocence. After the interview Knežović surrendered to a Zagreb police station with his lawyer. An autopsy revealed that Puljić was killed by a bullet from a police pistol. Knežović reportedly had been shooting from an AK 47.
Citing unnamed police sources, some media reported that Knežović took the pistol from the detained officer before shooting Puljić. The reports allege that Knežović took the pistol from the policeman and shot Puljić with it. Knežović said that he had returned the pistol to the policeman and identified himself. He later came to the police station, but escaped after getting the impression that police were searching for a scapegoat. The policeman Dragan Vujović was also taken into custody. Citing unnamed police sources, some media reports claimed Vujović is only being investigated as a murder accomplice. Other media reports said that Vujović's hands had tested positive for gunpowder residue, which he purportedly claimed was due to his coming into contact with the large quantities of fireworks used that day. Some reports claim that the policeman has failed a polygraph test in relation to the event.
Široki Brijeg
Couple members of Horde zla were arrested and put in custody. After intervention of Mirsad Kebo (federal minister of justice) they were released. That releasing made furious citizens of Široki Brijeg. Especially it was because one of the released hooligans was convicted previously.1st demonstration
In Tuesday October 6 2009 , in front of the West Herzegovina county headquarters many citizens have gathered. They ,together with ŠkripariŠkripari
Škripari is the organisation of football supporters of the Croat-backed club NK Široki Brijeg. They also support Široki Brijeg's other sport clubs, primarily HKK Široki in basketball.The name for the fan club as it exists today was given in 1996...
(total number was cca 3 thousand) protested because of the violence committed by Horde zla
Horde Zla
Horde Zla are an Ultras group who support the Bosnian football club FK Sarajevo. -History:The club's supporters were historically called Pitari while an individual was, and is still, known as a pitar. Their rowdiness during the matches of the time provoked accusations of being dangerous...
.Miro Kraljević has addressed to the audience giving them his support. The official presenter of Škripari has read list of requests to the authorities of West Herzegovina county.
- Identification of person that were arrested and after the pressure of federal Minister Mirsad Kebo released afterwards
- an explanation from the local authorities why there was no investigation about a murder attempt of Željko Zadro and coupe other citizens of Široki Brijeg
- the resign of the local County attorney that has released hooligans
- releasing Oliver Knenzović from custody with no conditions because he was just defending the city
Protesters have gathered in front the West Herzegovina county headquarters. They have been blaming them for suspected hooligans releasing.
The protester have left the scene after the speech of Stanko Škorba, president of Union of handicapped people from Homeland war. Škorba told them that ministry of internal affairs has accepted their requests.Although , he said, if the confirmation that Horde Zla came to make riots not being given officially by the authorities , on Thursday, October 9 , 2009. demonstrations will be repeated. .