UEFA unaware of alleged threats by former Serbian FA chief Kokeza against Vidić

UEFA has stated it was unaware of allegations that Slaviša Kokeza, the former president of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), planned physical attacks against prominent footballer Nemanja Vidić. The European football governing body learned of these claims only through a report by KRIK, an investigative journalism outlet.

UEFA confirmed that Kokeza has not contacted them about any potential position within the organization. Furthermore, UEFA indicated it will not pursue the matter, as Kokeza is no longer active in football. "For these allegations, we learned for the first time from your text. We were not informed about this case," UEFA responded to KRIK's inquiry about the findings.

The investigative report by KRIK, based on messages from the encrypted 'Sky' application, alleges that Kokeza, while leading the FSS in late 2020, organized threats and planned a physical assault on Vidić. This reportedly followed Vidić's public criticism of the FSS leadership after Serbia failed to qualify for the European Championship. The messages suggest Kokeza enlisted individuals connected to criminal groups to monitor, threaten, and physically attack Vidić.

According to the report, other players who publicly supported Vidić, including Danko Lazović, Nemanja Matić, and Dragan Mrđa, were also targeted. Montenegrin footballer Slavko Damjanović expressed his full support for Vidić, stating that figures like him are needed in the Football Association and that "football and mafia cannot go together."

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Ljudi poput Nemanje Vidića nam trebaju u savezu i svaka zemlja treba da ima takvog čovjeka, kojeg cijeli svijet poznaje. Apsolutno totalna podrška za Nemanju. Fudbal i mafija ne mogu nikako da idu zajedno.