Meet ‘Ivan the Terrible’ – Serbia’s feared extremely who has hijacked staff buses
England fans were warned, before they even travelled to Germany, to be vigilant for the opening game.
The Three Lions open their Euro 2024 account against Serbia – even UEFA determined the fixture as “high-risk”. In Gelsenkirchen, on Sunday, there’s an increased police presence and alcohol has been watered down.
However, there is one name that stands above all for the Serbian fans, Ivan Bogdanov – who has earned the nicknames of Ivan the Terrible and the Beast of Genoa.
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Heavily-tattooed Ivan Bogdanov was banged up behind bars for starting a riot during a Euro 2012 qualifier, which led to the game being abandoned. Bogdanov, wearing a balaclava, was seen sitting on a fence at Genoa’s Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris stadium.
Their clash with Italy was called off after just six minutes when Serbian ultras launched flares onto their pitch. According to The Guardian eye-witness claimed Bogdanov “urged other fans to take part in the violent act” and “did not seem to fear the police or care for the consequences”.
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A few months after the clash, he said: “That evening, the Serbian national team needed to be punished because they hadn’t been up to par for too long.
“It had nothing to do with the game, it was a matter of attitude and respect towards people. I apologise to Genoa, I have nothing against Italy. If I don’t like something I say so.”
It was later revealed he’d been in Genoa for three days to prepare for the clash – and he was among a group of fans that had managed to hijack the Serbian team bus. It was claimed he confronted goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic for his move to Partizan.
(Image: Getty Images)
Italian coach Cesare Prandelli said: “Their goalkeeper [Vladimir Stojkovic] was in our changing room, he was trembling and had fear not only about tonight but also in view of returning home.
“The ultra fans seemed organised, it appeared as though they would have done everything possible to make sure the game was not played.”
Bogdanov was released in 2014, and he was soon seen in the stands of his local club Red Star Belgrade – where he was linked to a riot in Ukraine. The Guardian reported that on one of Serbia’s top websites, the most popular comment was: “How on earth did he get to Ukraine?”
(Image: OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images)
There was violence in the hours before England’s clash with Serbia – but there is no indication Bogdanov was involved.
Videos emerged on social media that appeared to show England fans getting caught up in clashes between Albanian fans and Serbian supporters in the streets of Gelsenkirchen.
