Vitebsk police are ready to meet with militant fans of the Serbian football club "Crvena Zvezda"

July 18, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Vitebsk police are ready to meet with militant fans of the Serbian football club "Crvena Zvezda," assured Igor Skorinovich, Deputy Head of the Public Security Police Department of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, to a BELTA correspondent. The 2nd qualifying round of the Europa League will take place at the central stadium in Vitebsk on July 19, featuring Novopolotsk's "Naftan" and "Crvena Zvezda." According to preliminary data, from 500 to 3,000 fans of the Serbian club are expected to arrive in Vitebsk. Moreover, these are not only Serbian fans but also fans of Moscow's "Spartak." Fans of these clubs, as well as Greece's "Olympiacos," are part of the largest football fan association in Europe, known for its aggressive behavior, including towards police officers. According to Igor Skorinovich, the Serbian footballers will arrive in Vitebsk around noon today. Approximately 70 fans are on board with them. Another two dozen fans have already crossed the Belarusian border in Brest and are approaching Vitebsk. There have never been so many foreign fans at matches in Vitebsk before. Aware of the aggressiveness of Serbian fans, the Vitebsk police have been put on full alert. The Minsk OMON will provide additional assistance. The football club "Naftan" reported that their fans are also gathering for the match. According to preliminary data, they will occupy about half of the eight-thousand-seat stands. -0-