Partizan fans message — During the Conference League play-off second leg between FK Partizan and Spain’s Getafe in Belgrade on August 27, 2026, the atmosphere at the sold-out stadium in Humska was charged well before kickoff. Partizan fans, known as Grobari, directed loud and offensive chants at Aleksandar Vučić, the President of Serbia, as well as at Aci Šiptaru, whose name was referenced in the stadium’s message.

The match itself was crucial for Partizan, who had lost the first leg 3:1 in Madrid’s suburbs and were seeking a comeback to secure European competition. Despite the sporting stakes, the political undertone dominated the evening. Supporters gathered in a torch-lit procession before the game, making their way to the southern stand, and continued their vocal protest once inside. The club is facing the prospect of a fourth consecutive season without European football, and tensions between fans and management remain high, with the board offering resignations that supporters have so far rejected. Coach Saša Ilić described the situation as requiring “a small miracle.”

As soon as the stands filled, the chants against Vučić resumed—a pattern seen at both football and basketball games in recent months. The authorities have labeled these actions as hooliganism, while some in the public view the stadium as one of the last spaces where direct criticism of the government cannot be muted or censored. Unlike the Serbian parliament, the stadium allows for spontaneous and collective expression, often targeting those in power.

The message to Aci Šiptaru was delivered by the entire stadium, as captured in widely shared video clips. The incident underscores the ongoing friction between organized supporter groups and the Serbian leadership, with football matches serving as a prominent stage for political dissent.