Albania on high alert for Serbia grudge match


An Albanian soccer fan gestures during the Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match between Portugal and Albania at Elbasan arena stadium in Elbasan, Albania, September 7, 2015. REUTERS/Arben Celi

TIRANA (Reuters) - The man behind a drone stunt that triggered chaos at last year’s Euro 2016 football qualifier between Serbia and Albania was arrested on Wednesday on the eve of the teams' second encounter, as hosts Albania mobilised 1,800 police officers to secure the politically-charged match.

Long at odds over the independence of Serbia’s former Kosovo province, Albania and Serbia met on the football pitch in October last year amid hopes of a thaw in relations but the game was abandoned after a drone flew over the stadium carrying a flag depicting “Greater Albania” and triggered a brawl between players.

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