Tetovo parent: Beating of children cannot be reduced to a 'fan conflict' after meeting with Kasami

Parents in Tetovo are demanding stronger action after repeated episodes in which their children were physically and verbally assaulted by groups of violent minors, reportedly about 13–14 years old. According to parents, the attackers grabbed children by the throat, stripped off their jackets to check for shirts bearing fan insignia linked to FC Teteks and the group “Vojvodi,” filmed the incidents and posted the footage on TikTok.

A meeting called by Tetovo Mayor Bilal Kasami with municipal officials, representatives of the Tetovo Police Directorate, the Council for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, the Center for Social Work – Tetovo, and the principals of all primary and secondary schools in the municipality has heightened parents’ frustration. Neither the parents of the victims nor journalists were invited to that internal meeting.

Participants at the meeting concluded that the incidents involved underage supporters of two local football clubs. They assessed that the security situation in the town is stable and that the events do not represent inter-ethnic tensions but isolated inter-fan conflicts similar to incidents seen in other towns in the country.

Parent calls the characterization insufficient

One of the parents who says his child was attacked, Darko Gavroski, reacted strongly to the meeting's conclusions. He rejects reducing the physical assault on children to a mere fan dispute and demands that authorities treat the cases as criminal violent behavior against minors, not as routine rivalry.

Parents in Tetovo say they expect concrete measures from municipal authorities and police to stop the assaults and to prevent the publication of videos that further humiliate the victims. So far, officials describe the situation as localized fan clashes, while affected families say their children suffered repeated harassment and public humiliation.

Photo: Fejsbuk)