PROTEST OF VICTIMS' ASSOCIATION Why Did the Football Association's Disciplinary Committee Not Punish the Glorification of Ratko Mladić in Banja Luka?

(Patria) - The match between Borac and Željezničar in Banja Luka, held on 21 October 2024, which was already reported on the platform negatorigenocida.info, ended with an incident in the stands that sparked strong public reactions.

During the first half, the Borac fan group known as "Lešinari" chanted the name of Ratko Mladić, convicted of war crimes and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This act disturbed many spectators and was visible during the TV broadcast, prompting a protest from Željezničar goalkeeper Vedad Muftić, who tried to alert the main referee Mateo Musa and request the match be stopped. However, referee Musa continued the match without reacting, further stirring passions and raising questions about the jurisdiction and responsibility of football institutions.

After the match, attention turned to the Disciplinary Committee of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NS/FS BiH), which has the authority to sanction clubs and individuals for incidents at stadiums, including the glorification of war criminals. The committee, chaired by Dario Knezović with vice-presidents Goran Kosorić and Nermin Kljajić, and members Edin Kotlo, Mario Rozić, and Marinko Štrbac, was criticised by the public for failing to impose sanctions on FK Borac. Namely, despite the obvious situation that could be classified as hate speech and support for a convicted war criminal, the Disciplinary Committee did not react, nor did it announce disciplinary measures against the club or fans.

Such passivity of the committee has caused concern and disappointment among citizens and organisations advocating for respect for human rights and the preservation of sport as a space of tolerance and fair play. The inaction of the Disciplinary Committee calls into question its role and responsibility, especially in light of the fact that glorifying war criminals in public is punishable under the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The legal basis for sanctions already exists, so the question remains why it was not used in this case.

The Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina has lodged a strong protest against the lack of sanctions by the Disciplinary Committee of NS/FS BiH towards FK Borac and its fans after the scandalous chanting of Ratko Mladić's name during the match in Banja Luka. The association emphasises that sports fields are places where fair play and respect should be paramount, and glorifying war criminals directly violates these principles and insults all victims of war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The association states that it is disappointed by the inaction of the Disciplinary Committee of NS/FS BiH, given that such incidents should be strictly punished in accordance with the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which provides for sanctions for glorifying convicted war criminals. The association points out that this law must be applied equally in all public spaces, including sports fields, where behaviour that incites hatred or insults the dignity of victims should not be tolerated.

Due to the lack of reaction, the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide has announced that it will send an official request to FIFA and UEFA, seeking an explanation as to why local sports institutions do not sanction obvious violations and why they allow an atmosphere that encourages the glorification of war criminals.

The request will highlight that international football organisations are responsible for preserving the values of sport, including respect and integrity for all participants. FIFA and UEFA, which advocate zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination, face pressure to react when national organisations ignore their own disciplinary regulations.

In addition to international sports institutions, the association also called on the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina to actively prosecute all individuals and organisations engaged in denying or glorifying war criminals, stressing the importance of effective law enforcement.

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Furthermore, an appeal was made to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to consistently sanction violations of the Criminal Code related to such acts, as the legal basis for punishing such behaviour is already established in the law.

The association believes that such incidents send a negative message and undermine efforts to preserve peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To protect sport as a space of tolerance and fair play, the association expects more decisive actions from all competent authorities to prevent similar situations in the future and protect the dignity of all citizens of the country.