Europa League Clash Abandoned between Celtic and FK Crvena zvezda Amid Fan Chaos in Belgrade..

Celtic Cancels UEFA Europa League game against FK Crvena zvezda after knife attack outside.

In a night that will echo through European football history, Celtic FC’s highly anticipated UEFA Europa League opener against FK Crvena Zvezda descended into pandemonium, culminating in the Scottish giants’ unprecedented decision to abandon the match just minutes after kickoff. What began as a fiery continental showdown at the Rajko Mitić Stadium—infamously dubbed “The Eternal Derby Arena” for its raucous atmosphere—ended in acrimony, with UEFA officials left scrambling to address a potential forfeit and the broader implications for club rivalries.

The fixture, marking the 2025/26 Europa League’s Round 1, pitted two storied European powerhouses against each other. Celtic, fresh off a dominant start to their Scottish Premiership campaign—unbeaten in five league games and into the League Cup semi-finals—arrived in Serbia seeking redemption after their Champions League qualifier heartbreak against Pafos FC. Crvena Zvezda, the 1991 European Cup winners, were equally hungry, boasting seven straight victories in the Serbian SuperLiga and a fortress-like home record, unbeaten in 13 straight matches across all competitions.

Tensions simmered from the pre-match buildup. Crvena Zvezda’s ultras, the notorious “Delije,” had vowed to “welcome the Bhoys with hellfire,” referencing Celtic’s storied 1967 European Cup triumph—the first by a British Isles club. Historical echoes added fuel: the teams’ lone prior European meeting in 1968/69 saw Celtic dismantle the Serbs 6-2 on aggregate. But on this balmy September evening, with 50,000 fans crammed into the stadium under floodlights, the powder keg ignited in the 7th minute.

It started innocuously—a robust challenge by Crvena Zvezda’s midfielder Nikola Krstović on Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi sparked a heated exchange. As players squared up, the Delije section erupted. Flares rained down onto the pitch, one scorching the touchline near Celtic’s dugout. Bottles and seats followed, forcing referee Clément Turpin to halt play. Celtic’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, sprinted onto the field, remonstrating with officials as his players huddled protectively around Furuhashi, who clutched a bloody gash above his eye from flying debris.

“Enough is enough,” Rodgers bellowed in a post-incident interview, his voice raw with fury. “We’ve come here to play football, not dodge missiles. The safety of my players and staff comes first. This isn’t passion; it’s endangerment.” Celtic’s delegation, citing UEFA’s own safety protocols, formally requested the match’s abandonment. After a 45-minute standoff—punctuated by chants of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” clashing against Serbian anthems—UEFA match delegate Gianluigi Buffon ruled the game forfeited, awarding Celtic a 3-0 walkover victory pending appeal.

The fallout was swift and seismic. Crvena Zvezda’s president, Svetozar Mijailović, decried the decision as “a witch hunt against Serbian football,” blaming “provocative Celtic fans” for waving Irish tricolours—a nod to the club’s historical ties to Celtic solidarity. Belgrade police reported 12 arrests, including three for pyrotechnic offenses, while the Serbian Football Association lodged an immediate protest. UEFA, in a terse statement, announced an investigation into “spectator behavior” and potential stadium bans, with fines looming for the hosts.

For Celtic supporters, the cancellation was bittersweet vindication. Over 2,000 Hoops faithful had braved the journey, only to witness their team’s valor in the face of hostility. “We came for glory, but left with justice,” tweeted captain Callum McGregor, whose defiant on-pitch huddle became an instant viral icon. Rodgers praised his squad’s resilience, singling out young academy prospect Colby Donovan, who stepped up amid injury crises at right-back, and Japanese star Kyogo, whose grit symbolized the club’s unyielding spirit.

This isn’t the first time European nights have turned toxic—recall the 2017 clashes between Celtic and Moscow clubs—but it underscores a growing crisis in fan culture. As Crvena Zvezda’s perfect domestic streak met its abrupt halt, questions swirl: Will UEFA impose harsher sanctions, like partial closures for future ties? Could this ignite a broader dialogue on player welfare in high-stakes fixtures?

As the dust settles, Celtic return to Glasgow with points in the bag but scars on their resolve. The Europa League’s new league phase format promised unpredictability, but few foresaw a cancellation before the first whistle’s echo faded. In football’s grand tapestry, where heroes and villains blur, tonight reminded us: passion must never eclipse safety. The Bhoys march on, but the red star of Belgrade dims—for now.