Vllaznia president attacked assistant referee after match with Elbasani
Attack occurred after 1:1 match in which two Vllaznia goals were overturned by VAR; Disciplinary Commission will decide.
A major scandal swept the Albanian football public after Vllaznia president Alban Xhaferi physically attacked assistant referee Ergis Spahiu after the match with Elbasani. A video of the incident circulated on social media.
Match ended 1:1 — two Vllaznia goals overturned after VAR
The meeting finished 1:1, and in the finale Vllaznia were left without two goals that were overturned after an intervention by the VAR system, which provoked strong dissatisfaction among the guests from Shkodra.
The video shows that the incident occurred after the match had ended, while Spahiu was heading to the tunnel to the dressing rooms. Xhaferi approached him and struck him, after which security immediately reacted and protected the assistant referee, preventing further escalation.
The Albanian Football Federation confirmed that Spahiu was attacked by the president of Vllaznia and strongly condemned the violence, saying that "the line has been crossed", especially when such behavior comes from people who should protect football.
The case is before the Disciplinary Commission and a decision is expected; Xhaferi faces a serious sanction. Coach Edi Martini is also under scrutiny over his conduct on the field and gestures directed at VAR.
After the match, Xhaferi defended his actions and expressed the club's stance on the refereeing, saying: "We are Vllaznia and we are not sheep. No one can toy with Vllaznia, Shkodra and this city." He described the refereeing as "gangrene."
Photo: press material from the event
