Serbia ghost match: UEFA bans German fans from Klopp match
UEFA has decided for the Nations League match of the German national team on 13 November in Belgrade that no German fans will be admitted to the Red Star Belgrade stadium. This puts Jürgen Klopp at risk of a ghost match or an appearance before a mini‑setting.
Penalty and possible exceptions
The ruling states that the Rajko Mitic stadium, which normally holds around 55 000 spectators, is to remain empty. In addition, a fine of €50 000 is imposed because Serbian supporters displayed racist behaviour in previous matches against Greece and the Netherlands. The Serbian football association plans to soften the ruling by allowing at least children and 2 000 German fans to gain access.
Concrete details about a mini‑setting, as was already used by the Croatian association for a match against England, are not yet available according to UEFA. The Serbian association must also pay nearly €80 000 for additional violations, and a two‑year away‑game fan ban is under probation.
UEFA imposes fan ban for Nations League match in Belgrade
In the first leg in Munich on 1 October, which Germany won 2‑0, the Serbian association was already prohibited from selling tickets to German fans. The current decision therefore raises questions about how German supporters can organise their travel to Belgrade.
Klopp's Germany must play Nations League in Belgrade without fans in November