Malichi sent off after derby incident; Vardar players, notably Kastanjeda, face reports
Match officials filed reports after the Vardar–Shkëndija (0:2) derby; Shkëndija centre‑back Malichi was sent off by virtue of a second booking and Vardar players — especially Dieko Kastanjeda — are under scrutiny.
Vardar’s derby against Shkëndija ended 0:2, but attention has shifted to a late altercation that followed the final whistle on August 10, 2026. Football authorities will now review the incident and the conduct of several players, after what the match officials described as a tense ending that fortunately did not escalate into larger disorder.
Referee action and club report
During and immediately after the clash, Shkëndija centre‑back Malichi was disciplined by referee Stojanche Trpchevski. The referee issued a yellow card to Malichi at the scene; because the player had already been booked earlier in the match, that second booking effectively becomes a sending‑off.
That on‑field decision, however, does not close the case. Officials led by delegate Toni Shalev from Kavadarci prepared an additional report focusing on the behaviour of several Vardar players — notably Dieko Kastanjeda, Tores and Rodriges. The report singles out Kastanjeda’s reaction as particularly crude and below acceptable standards.
Those internal reports will be forwarded to the Football Federation’s disciplinary bodies, which are expected to consider harsher sanctions if they judge the players’ conduct crossed the line. The club could face punishments beyond individual cards, depending on the findings of the officials’ dossier.
Observers point to precedent: last year Webster of Shkëndija received a five‑match ban after a verbal exchange in which a spectator called him "monkey"; authorities handed the striker a severe suspension for his response, even when the provocation came from the stands. That episode is now being cited in discussions about proportionality and consistency in punishments.
Separately, Vardar are still in a phase of transition at the coaching level: Kristian Fabijani is no longer serving as the club’s head coach. The disciplinary review over the derby incident is the next item on the calendar for both the club and the federation.
Photo: press material from the event
