Red Star fans display tifo featuring war criminal Mladic before derby win

Red Star Belgrade supporters unveiled a controversial tifo depicting war criminal Ratko Mladic during the club’s derby match against Partizan Belgrade on Sunday. The display, which was visible to fans in the stadium and broadcast on television, sparked immediate backlash from human rights groups and the Serbian government, who condemned the glorification of a figure convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. Red Star’s management issued a statement saying the club had no control over fan‑made displays and would cooperate with authorities to investigate the incident.

The tifo appeared in the stands as the match began, drawing criticism from both domestic and international media. Serbian officials called for a review of stadium security protocols and urged clubs to prevent extremist propaganda from being shown during games. The match itself ended in a 2‑1 victory for Red Star, but the event has reignited discussions about the responsibilities of football clubs in regulating fan behaviour and the broader issue of extremist symbolism in sports arenas.