Derby violence/ 3 in handcuffs, 5 under investigation, including two representatives of Partizan and the Albanian Football Association

Several citizens are being prosecuted for violent acts during the football match held yesterday at the "Arena e Demave", Tufina.

Two representatives of KF Partizani and the Albanian Football Association are also being prosecuted.

The structures of the Tirana Local Police Directorate, within the framework of measures to guarantee public order and security, were deployed in the perimeter of the “Arena e Demave” stadium in Tufina, as well as on the road leading to it, about 1 hour and 30 minutes before the start of the match, in order to manage the flow of fans and ensure order. The police services took measures to escort the two groups of fans to the stadium, as well as the bus with the players of the visiting team.

During the process of fans entering the stadium and before the start of the match, several incidents occurred between the two fan groups, which required immediate police intervention to neutralize the situation and prevent the escalation of violence.

The match took place without incident during the game, however, due to the tensions created earlier, several citizens involved in acts of violence were identified, who were escorted by the police in cooperation with private security services (SHPSF).

At the conclusion of the investigative actions:

• The following citizens were arrested in flagrante delicto for the criminal offenses of "Opposition of an employee performing a state duty or a public service", "Opposition of a Public Order police officer" and "Violent acts in sports activities".

• The following citizens were prosecuted for the criminal offenses of "Disturbance of public peace" and "Violent acts in sports activities": MS, 31 years old, AQ, 23 years old, I. Xh., 37 years old, RB, 30 years old and AR, 17 years old.

• Also, the general secretary of KF Partizani, citizen G. B, and the match delegate from the Albanian Football Association, citizen MS, were prosecuted for the criminal offenses of "Disobedience to the order of the public order police" and "Abuse of office".

Regarding the allegations regarding the progress of the match and the measures taken by the Tirana Police, we clarify for the public opinion that:

The Tirana Local Police Directorate, after receiving the request for measures on 03.02.2025 from KF Partizani, has notified the organizers on 04.02.2025 that the "Arena e Demave" stadium does not meet the security conditions for holding a derby match, creating a risk of possible incidents.

Despite this announcement and the lack of an official response from the organizers, Tirana Police took measures to avoid escalating the situation, engaging 276 police officers, supported by 8 groups of the National Security Force.

The efforts of the Tirana Police to keep the situation under control have been maximal, but it remains clear that the lack of cooperation from the organizers and the inadequate infrastructure have significantly complicated the police's task, increasing the operational burden and exposing the officers to unnecessary risks. Also, the situation created has endangered not only the police officers, but also the sports fans, players and all those present in the stadium, who could have been exposed to violent acts and their possible consequences.

The Tirana Local Police Directorate appeals for closer cooperation with the organizers and relevant institutions, in order for such activities to take place in environments that meet security standards, avoiding the recurrence of similar situations.