Shkëndija Aračinovo demands federation action after referee allegedly calls captain an "illiterate monkey"
The club says referee Vlatko Ilioski called captain Besir Demiri an "illiterate monkey" and has asked the national federation to sanction him.
Shkëndija Aračinovo has formally demanded disciplinary action after alleging that match referee Vlatko Ilioski directed an insult at their captain, Besir Demiri, during the club’s 0–2 home defeat to Struga TL on October 17, 2026.
The incident, the club says, occurred in the tenth round of the PMFL championship and prompted an immediate written protest sent to the Football Federation of North Macedonia. According to Shkëndija Aračinovo, Ilioski acted “extremely unprofessionally” during the game.
In its statement the club reports that at one point during the match the referee addressed Demiri with the words "illiterate monkey". The club calls the remark derogatory and unacceptable in any professional setting.
Club asks federation to intervene
Shkëndija Aračinovo’s communication to the federation asks for a formal investigation and appropriate sanctions against Ilioski. The club said it expects the national governing body to respond publicly and take measures that will prevent similar conduct in future matches.
The match ended 0–2 in favor of Struga TL. Beyond the allegation of abusive language, the club also described the referee’s overall conduct during the match as unprofessional, without specifying further incidents in the public statement.
The club’s demand places the Football Federation of North Macedonia in the position of deciding whether to open disciplinary proceedings against a match official, a step that could lead to suspension or other sanctions depending on the outcome of any inquiry.
Photo: press material from the event
