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Albania–North Macedonia football rivalry

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Albania–North Macedonia football rivalry
Location of Albania (green) and North Macedonia (orange)
SportFootball
LocationEurope (UEFA)
Teams Albania
 North Macedonia
First meeting
Macedonia 5–1 Albania
(Tetovo; 14 May 1994)
Latest meetingMacedonia 1–1 Albania
(Strumica, 5 September 2017)
Statistics
Meetings totalCompetitive matches: 2
Exhibition matches: 8
Total matches: 10
Most winsAlbania (2)
North Macedonia (4)
All-time seriesAlbania: 2
Draw: 4
North Macedonia: 4

The Albania–North Macedonia football rivalry, is a sports rivalry that exists between the national football teams of the two countries, as well as their respective sets of fans. The rivalry is considered to be one of the more bitter, owing to the events that took place relatively recently during the Kosovo war and especially, the Albanian incursion and insurgency in 2001. While Albania–North Macedonia relations are not as strained as Albania's relations with Serbia, deep resentment and distrust between the two ethnic groups are often fuelled by political and historical differences, which often finds ways to the football field.

Historical background

[edit]

Albanians form the largest minority in North Macedonia, over 25% of the country's total population, mostly inhabited in the western part of North Macedonia, which borders Albania and Kosovo. This has long been the source of friction between the two nations, partly due to great ethnic and religious differences; majority of Macedonians are Slavic and Orthodox Christians, while Albanians are predominantly Muslims.[1] Moreover, in the midst of Albanian nationalist sentiment during the 1990s, many Albanians in western Macedonia did not hide their aspiration to be merged with Albania due to shared ethnic identity, the concept was known as Ilirida, and this often led to uneasy sentiment among the Macedonian population, fuelled hatred against anything Albanians.[2][3]

Several incidents like the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia by ethnic Albanian fighters served as the catalysts for widespread anti-Albanian demonstration and unrest in North Macedonia. Following the 2001 Albanian insurgency, major anti-Albanian riots broke out in Macedonia.[4] The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts was accused of Albanophobia in 2009 after it published its first encyclopedia in which was claimed that the Albanian endonym, Shqiptar, means "highlander" and is primarily used by other Balkan peoples to describe Albanians if used in South Slavic languages the endonym is considered derogatory by the Albanian community. The encyclopedia also claimed that the Albanians settled in the region in the 16th century, and only ceased to exist after Albania's pressure.[5][6][7]

In a terrorist act known as the Smilkovci lake killings, on 12 April 2012, five young ethnic Macedonian teenagers were shot dead by persons of ethnic Albanian origin. They were later found guilty and sentenced to life.[8] This provoked anti-Albanian sentiment. On 16 April 2012, a protest against these attacks and demanding justice was held in Skopje. Some of the participants in the protests were chanting anti-Albanian slogans.[9] On 1 March 2013 in Skopje, a mob of ethnic Macedonians protested against the decision to appoint Talat Xhaferi, an ethnic Albanian politician, as Minister of Defence.[10] The protest turned violent when the mob started hurling stones and also attacking Albanian bystanders and police officers alike. The police reported 3 injured civilians, five injured police officers and much damage to private property. Although the city hospital reported treating five heavily injured Albanian men, two of which are on Intensive-care unit. During this protest part of the mob burned the Albanian flag. A mob of Macedonian nationalists also stormed the Macedonian Parliament on 27 April 2017 in reaction to the election of Talat Xhaferi as Speaker of the Assembly, numerous were injured during the riot.

On the 108th anniversary of the Congress of Manastir the museum of the Albanian alphabet in Bitola was vandalized, and the windows and doors were broken. A poster with the words "Death to Albanians" and with the drawing of a lion cutting the heads of the Albanian double-headed eagle was placed on the front doors of the museum.[11] One week after this incident, on the day of the Albanian Declaration of Independence graffiti with the same messages, as those of the previous week, were placed on the directorate of Pelister National Park.[12]

On 30 March 2017, Macedonian media published "When we will take the 46 Albanian villages with Macedonian population", calling for Macedonia to take back land they perceived to have been taken by Albania, causing uproar and anti-Macedonian sentiment among Albanians.[13] By 2024, Albanians continue to be discriminated and hated by the Macedonian population, whereas hatred against North Macedonia remains deep in Albania due to deep Albanian nationalism in the country.[14][15][16][17] In the eyes of Macedonians, Albanians have attempted to split the country into two, complicating the relations as both remain distrustful.[18][19]

Football incidents

[edit]

Due to this deep hostility between the two ethnic communities, matches between Albanian and North Macedonian teams are not free from these frictions.

One of North Macedonia's most renowned football clubs, KF Shkëndija, is an ethnically Albanian football team, which have huge rivalries with many ethnic Macedonian clubs due to their Albanian ethnic identity. In 2012, league matches in Macedonia were forced to be suspended after an incident related to Shkëndija supporters causing violence in Tetovo, including their demand to play against then-top leader of the league, FK Vardar.[20] Violence also occurred between various Macedonian fan groups against supporters of KF Shkupi, also another Albanian-oriented club.[21] In 2013, the final of the country's football cup was abandoned after just ten minutes due to violent nationalist chants between two groups; the final was subsequently replayed with no spectator.[22] A prolonged struggle between these ethnic Albanian and Macedonian clubs is also a prominent feature in Tetovo, where ethnic tensions are common.[23] Coincidentally, many Albanian and North Macedonian hooligan groups are also deeply linked to political climate and crimes.[24]

Matches between the two national teams are also not free from incidents. When Albania and Macedonia were drawn with each other during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, due to long-standing ethnic tensions, matches between both teams were fierce and played with ferocity.[25] During the UEFA Euro 2024, which North Macedonia failed to qualify but Albania did, Albanian supporters, led by player Mirlind Daku, chanted "Fuck Macedonia", which resulted in North Macedonian officials demanding punishment for Daku; UEFA later issued two-match ban for Daku.[26][27] The punishment was criticised for being too light in North Macedonia.[28]

Despite the exceptional level of hostilities and tensions, multiple ethnic Albanians from North Macedonia have represented either Albania or North Macedonia.[29] However, ethnic allegiance also sometimes compromise their loyalty, notably with the incident where four ethnic Albanian players of North Macedonia, Ezgjan Alioski, Visar Musliu, Enis Bardhi and Arijan Ademi, refused to sing the country's national anthem during the UEFA Euro 2020.[30]

Matches

[edit]
Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first and North Macedonia's goal tally last
  Albania Win
  North Macedonia Win
  Draw
Date Venue Result Competition
14 May 1994 Tetovo City Stadium, Tetovo 1–5 Friendly
10 February 1999 Selman Stërmasi Stadium, Tirana 2–0 Friendly
26 April 2000 Stadion Goce Delčev, Prilep 0–1 Friendly
5 January 2002 Al Ahli Stadium, Manama 0–0 2002 Bahrain Four Nations Tournament
20 August 2003 Stadion Goce Delčev, Prilep 1–3 Friendly
7 February 2007 Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër 0–1 Friendly
17 November 2010 Skënderbeu Stadium, Korçë 0–0 Friendly
15 November 2011 Stadion Goce Delčev, Prilep 0–0 Friendly
5 September 2016 Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër 2–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 September 2017 Stadion Mladost, Strumica 1–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Babuna, Aydin (2000). "The Albanians of Kosovo and Macedonia: Ethnic Identity Superseding Religion". Nationalities Papers. 28: 67–92. doi:10.1080/00905990050002461.
  2. ^ https://balkaninsight.com/2014/09/19/republic-of-ilirida-declared-in-macedonia/
  3. ^ "The Macedonian Crisis - Terrorism, National Movement, or Struggle for Self - determination?(Volume 2, Number 3-4, Autumn-Winter 2001.)".
  4. ^ Naegele, Jolyon (9 April 2008). "Macedonia: Anti-Albanian Riots Put Conflict on New Level". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  5. ^ "B92 - News - Macedonian encyclopedia pulled from shelves". B92. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  6. ^ Rashidi, Nazim. "Dënohet Enciklopedia maqedonase". BBC. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Macedonian Encyclopedia Sparks Balkan Ethnic Row". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  8. ^ BRIN (22 February 2021). "Murder Trial". BI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  9. ^ Përleshje mes policisë dhe protestuesve në Shkup. YouTube. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Приведени неколкумина учесници во инцидентот пред Влада". Puls 24. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  11. ^ "ХУЛИГАНИ ГО ДЕМОЛИРАА МУЗЕЈОТ НА АЛБАНСКАТА АЗБУКА". 21TV. 18 March 2016. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  12. ^ "KËRCËNIM NË FESTËN E FLAMURIT 'VDEKJE SHQIPTARËVE'". TV-21. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  13. ^ "The Anti-Albanian Chauvinism of Macedonian Media". 31 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Yugo-nostalgia overlooks Albanians - Arber Gashi". 17 July 2024.
  15. ^ "North Macedonia: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report".
  16. ^ "Macedonia Crisis Part of Regional Problem".
  17. ^ Pichler, Robert (2021). "In the Shadow of Kosovo. Divergent National Pathways and the Politics of Differentiation in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia". Comparative Southeast European Studies. 69 (2–3): 289–311. doi:10.1515/soeu-2021-0028.
  18. ^ "The problem between the Macedonian and Albanian ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia and its future".
  19. ^ "Albanians' integration in North Macedonia remains complex 20 years after Ohrid Accords". 10 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Leagues suspended after ethnic violence".
  21. ^ https://balkaninsight.com/2012/11/30/political-football-the-balkans-belligerent-ultras-avoid-penalties/
  22. ^ https://www.eurosport.com/football/european-football/2013/macedonia-cup-final-abandoned-after-crowd-trouble_sto3769150/story.shtml
  23. ^ "How Shkëndija won the war for Tetovo". 11 July 2024.
  24. ^ https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/en/kolku-e-silna-vrskata-megju-fudbalskite-huligani-kriminalot-i-politikata-na-balkanot/
  25. ^ "Albania and Macedonia tensions high". 4 September 2016.
  26. ^ "Balkan tensions burst onto the pitch at Euro 2024". 24 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Albania says player banned for two Euro 2024 games for 'nationalist' chants".
  28. ^ "Macedonian Football | UEFA with a ridiculous penalty for the insults against the Macedonians at EURO 2024". 24 June 2024.
  29. ^ https://www.koha.net/en/futboll/pese-shqiptare-te-maqedonia-e-veriut
  30. ^ "The four Albanian players do not sing the Macedonian anthem in the European match".
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