During the recent Belgrade derby between Red Star Belgrade and Partizan, supporters of Red Star unveiled a large tifo—a choreographed display of banners and flags—depicting Ratko Mladić. Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb military commander, was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

The display occurred in the context of a high-stakes sporting event, but the inclusion of Mladić’s image has sparked criticism regarding the glorification of figures convicted of atrocities. While the act was carried out by a segment of the fan base, it highlights the ongoing tension in the region regarding the legacy of the 1990s conflicts. The club has not issued a formal statement regarding the specific content of the fan display, and there is currently no consensus on whether the stadium authorities will face sanctions for allowing the banner to be unfurled. The incident serves as a reminder of how political and historical grievances continue to manifest in Serbian sports culture.