Tension was building in the Serbian capital last night as fans prepared for a European football match and police braced themselves for political violence. Belgrade's Red Star fans have a reputation for protest against President Slobodan Milosevic and fears of violence were high before the Belgrade-Kiev match, which comes in the first week of the election campaign in Yugoslavia.
The match, a qualifier for the European Champions League, comes a month after an international game which saw rioting in Red Star's stadium.
During the July 28th match against a Georgian team, Red Star fans began to sing the refrain: "Save Serbia and Kill Yourself Slobodan."
Police moved to arrest the ringleaders, but Red Star fans ripped up seats and threw them, as baton-wielding police ploughed through the crowd.
More than 150 people were arrested and 50 were charged. Many of those arrested alleged later they were beaten in police stations.
After last month's demonstration the ruling board of Red Star appealed to fans not to abuse the match for reasons that have nothing to do with football. It said UEFA rules forbid political slogans in and around stadiums during and after a match. Red Star officials said they do not expect any trouble, but Belgraders are sceptical. The mayor, Mr Vojislav Mihailovic, an opposition presidential candidate, has said he will be at the game to support the fans. Many mothers were keeping sons away.
Red Star fans played a dramatic role in protests in May when police stormed the non-government radio station, Studio B, and closed down other key non-government media in Serbia. Thousands of the football fans wanted to go to a demonstration at Belgrade City Hall after the match. Police sought to block them as they streamed into the city centre, both sides clashed, and the first of three nights of violence started.
Formerly, Red Star fans had a reputation for supporting Mr Milosevic. The assassinated war criminal and Serbian paramilitary Zelko Raznatovic, known as Arkan, was head of the fans. But Arkan later left the club and fans are now ardently against the regime.
President Slobodan Milosevic: not popular with football fans