Watch moment Serbian president’s SON is ‘hauled away by bodyguards in hooligan brawl’ before England game
THE SON of Serbia’s president was ripped away from a hooligan brawl by his bodyguards yesterday before the England game, it has been claimed.
Shocking footage appears to show the moment Danilo Vucic wrestles with his security as he fights to jump into the brawl between Serbian ultras and England fans.
Ahead of the match last night, which saw the Three Lions win their first Euro 2024 clash 1-0, chaos erupted in Gelsenkirchen at around 3.30pm.
Videos shared online showed the violence unfold in the western German city where hundreds of riot cops were forced to intervene.
Tables, chairs and bottles were thrown at a local restaurant, Hirt Steakhouse and dramatic pictures showed bloodied fans in the street.
The apparent clips of Vucic show three bodyguards holding him back as he tries to plunge into the fray – two dragging him from behind and one holding him back from in front.
Jakub Bielamowicz, a think tank analyst at the Institute of New Europe, shared the video online claiming it was the president’s son.
He wrote: “Danilo Vučić, the son of the Serbian president, is seen wrestling with his bodyguards as he attempts to join a clash with English fans in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the Serbia-England game.
“Danilo is known for his links with Serbian ultras, extremist groups and criminal underground.”
Vucic junior has been the subject of controversy before during his dad’s time as president.
In 2021 the Serbian leader revealed gruesome crimes committed by a gang led by notorious football hooligan Veljko Belivuk – and his son Danilo had been pictured with them.
Danilo was snapped in the stands of football matches with his arms around members of the Belivuk gang, the New York Times reports.
His dad accused the press of unfairly targeting his family as a result.
Another clip posted on X appeared to show the 26-year-old break free from his bodyguard’s grip as he disappears into the crowd.
Various European media outlets including Afton Bladet and El Espanol also claimed Aleksandar Vucic’s son was filmed trying to delve into the chaos on Sunday.
Alfa Press said he was held back by members of Cobra, a special forces unit responsible for his protection.
Serbians arrested at England clash on Sunday
By Nick Parker and Robin Perrie
TROUBLE flared before England’s Euros curtain raiser against Serbia – leaving an English fan with blood pouring from a head wound.
Sources at the scene said a group of yobs appeared to have started chaos in a restaurant near the venue city of Gelsenkirchen five hours before kick-off.
Around 3.30pm, some 200 German riot police swiftly restored order as bottles and glasses filled the air during the brawl.
A cop said: “The English turned up and we saw everything being thrown – chairs, tables, glasses – you name it.
“Serbs hit back and chased the group down the street and one was caught.
“He’s a lad from Birmingham who ended up with a nasty wound to the back of his head.”
Police at the scene said they believed the English had started the trouble – but English fans blamed the Serbs.
Cops later confirmed that seven Serbs had been arrested but there were no English arrests.
Trouble centred on the Aleppo Restaurant in Arminstrasse, where the scene was littered with smashed glass, bottles and debris minutes after the clash.
Video showing debris, bottles, chairs and projectiles flying in melee appeared to have been filed by a shocked English fan shouting: “It’s the Serbians!”
Local police confirmed seven Serbs were arrested after Sunday’s clash and said: “It was an altercation between English and Serbian fans, who were separated by the police.
“Further measures are underway and the background is currently being clarified.”
Witnesses to the clash said a group of “masked” men exploded from around the corner of the street and began hurling bottles.
One eyewitness told the Daily Mail: “There was a sudden burst of violence. It came out of nowhere.
“It was unclear who started what. But to me it seemed liked a group of fans rushed the bar where Serbs were drinking and it all kicked off with tables, chairs and bottles thrown.
“One man had blood pouring from a head wound – he was English I believe.”
The clash unfolded in Gelsenkirchen, a city in Western Germany, where fans had gathered to watch the game.
The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) said at the time: “We are aware of an issue in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the England v Serbia match.
“Our German colleagues have made a number of arrests of what we currently believe to be Serbian supporters.
“At this stage we do not believe that any UK nationals have been arrested but enquiries are ongoing.
“Our officers are at the location speaking to German colleagues – our investigation team is now reviewing footage of the incident and if any UK nationals have been involved, football banning orders will be sought.”
The brawl came just hours after cops closed in on a crazed axeman brandishing a Molotov cocktail near a busy Euros fan zone.
Who are pro-Putin Serbian ultras?
By Georgie English, Foreign News Reporter
FROM pitch invasions to mass brawls, the Serbian ultras are known for creating carnage when they descend on the footballing world.
A growing number of die-hard Balkan hooligans have been causing havoc in their country and abroad.
With Germany next up on the footballing calendar, many fear Europe’s hardest fans could quickly cause the tournament to erupt in violence.
Serbia has close relations with Russia that date back centuries through a common Slavic origin and the Orthodox Christian religion.
Russia was also supportive of Serbia’s attempted coup in Kosovo after the nation claimed independence in 2008.
The West strongly backed Kosovo in their fight for independence angering Serbs in a similar manner to how Putin’s assaults have been strongly condemned by Nato.
Their fans go by several names – such as The Gravediggers, Head Hunters, Zulu Warriors, and the Red Devils.
They are known for using a range of weapons such as baseball bats, belts, pyrotechnics, knives and guns.