Serbian Football Chief Allegedly Plotted Attack on Legend Vidić

Former Serbian Football Association president Slaviša Kokeza allegedly orchestrated a campaign of intimidation and violence against football legend Nemanja Vidić and other former players. Encrypted messages obtained by Serbian journalists reveal Kokeza's fear that Vidić might challenge him for his position.

According to the OCCRP portal, Kokeza sought assistance from individuals connected to Serbian criminals and football hooligans. The messages, exchanged on the now-defunct Sky ECC platform, detail plans to threaten Vidić, pressure him to stay out of football politics, and even physically assault former national team players who supported his candidacy.

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We need to give some money, if possible, to physically threaten him, to scare him so they can kill him.

One message reportedly stated that Vidić should be told to "stay away from the association or he will end up in a ditch." It further warned that if he spoke out again or pursued his ambitions to lead the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), he would "go to the cemetery." Kokeza also allegedly urged a contact to threaten the former player's family with murder if he attempted to become president.

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Pressure him so he gets scared and stops talking shit. So he never gets involved in the association again.

While the messages do not confirm that the attacks were carried out, they indicate the plans were advanced. One contact reported successfully placing a tracker on Vidić's car in Milan, where the player was living at the time. Vidić expressed his dismay upon learning of the alleged plans, stating he was unaware of them and had never been warned by Serbian authorities. He criticized the police, judiciary, and prosecution for their role in allowing such individuals to hold positions of power.

Kokeza did not respond to journalists' questions. The Serbian prosecution stated that Kokeza had never been under investigation and declined to provide further details. The FSS and an advisor to President Vučić also did not respond to media inquiries.

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This is devastating for society, for all of us. The greatest responsibility lies with the police, the judiciary, the prosecution, and the people who appoint such individuals to positions of power.