Two images expose organisational failures in North Macedonian football

On 08.11.2026 two photographs from weekend matches returned the same blunt message: football in North Macedonia is struggling both on and off the pitch. The images — one from a municipal league fixture in Bitola and another from a match in Tetovo — captured practical and organisational shortcomings that underline how far the game is from being played in front of full stands, on decent fields and under normal conditions.

Visual evidence of deeper problems

The first picture shows the municipal league game FC Mladost Beranci – FC Yeni Male (2:0) in Bitola. The playing surface is marked with irregular, almost comical lines that make it hard to take the match seriously. Observers asked sharply: "Officials, organisers!? Are we listening!?" The photograph circulated quickly and risked turning another domestic fixture into regional ridicule.

The second image involves field photographers and volunteers who regularly cover amateur and youth matches across the country. They reported that during a weekend game in Tetovo they were prevented from doing their work by the match delegate: the delegate forbade them from performing their duties. The reaction among those affected was blunt: "FFM...!? Is this normal!?"

Both incidents point to failures at different levels: infrastructure and basic pitch preparation in Bitola, and unclear or heavy-handed match-day management in Tetovo. Together they illustrate why many matches remain invisible to the public and why spectators do not return in larger numbers.

People involved in grassroots football say these are not isolated problems. Amateur and youth competitions frequently suffer from poor organisation, minimal media coverage and limited oversight—conditions that discourage parents, volunteers and local fans from investing time and energy.

Separately, earlier in the weekend Elezi and Demiri secured a win for Shkëndija Arachinovo, a result noted in local reports.

Photo: press material from the event