Thread by @AMereminski

#srebrenica25 in the stadium. A long Thread. Today marks 25 years since the start of the Srebrenica massacre. Others talk about what happened. In German I recommend @ballaballablkn in English @SrebrenicaUK I will focus the role of #srebrenica in football (1)

The stadiums in former Yugoslavia are full of national symbols. National narratives range from constructed myths, heroic epics to the reception of tragedies and attacks on the nation. The Srebrenica genocide is one of them and deeply rooted in Bosnian identity. (2)

In the recent years almost all pro-Bosnian fangroups had banners, graffiti etc. With "nikad zaboraviti. nikad oprostiti" "Never forget. Never forgive" the victims are reminded and the perpetrators are denounced. Examples: @fk_velez_mostar, Zenica, @fkzeljeznicar (3)

In July the clubs normally play in the qualification for the European Cup. They use the games to commemorate. In connection with the singing of the informal national anthem "Jedna si Jedina" it illustrates the manifestation within the national identity (4)

The clubs have received fines from @UEFA in the past. The Football association want are clear sport without any political messages. The Manijaci from @fkzeljeznicar respond: "The memory of genocide is a taboo yet the glorification of war criminals goes unpunished. ... (5)

...While others do what they want, criminals from Nyon exert justice on us. May the fines become even bigger, Maniacs will never forget Srebrenica" It becomes clear: official restrictions and penalties are accepted in order to preserve the national memory (6)

This year, on the occasion of #srebrenica25, several groups selling Shirts whose proceeds are going to needy families from the Srebrenica region. Knowledge about national solidarity is imparted about the groups. Benedict Anders called this “comradeship”. Pictures: RA, TM, HZ (7)

It is no coincidence that one of the most important graffiti of Horde Zla from @FK_Sarajevo - for Vedran Puljić #IstinaZaVedrana – was on a wall together with “Never forget Srebrenica”. In no way both are comparable to each other, but both are an attack on national identity (8)

Although not in the intensity as the Croatian fans do in #Vukovar, fans of many pro-Bosnian clubs go to Srebrenica for a memorial march. This year too and despite the Covid-19 pandemic. (9) (first photo from the past)
facebook.com/202281634061/p…

On the other hand, Serbian Fans in Bosnia especially @FKBoracBL, use Srebrenica as an attack against pro-Bosnian groups. In Febr 2020 “Nož, žica, Srebrenica” - “Knives, barbed wire, Srebrenica” calls through the stadium when FK Sarajevo played there. (10)

Already in the 1st game against Željo after the war in 02/03 the slogan hung on the fence. ( 1:20)
Banners for Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal, whether in the Republika Srbska, in Serbia or elsewhere, always implies the thought of Srebrenica (11)

Outside BiH: You can find a banner shown by United Force (Rad Belgrade) against Novi Pazar with rebus-like message: "Solve the rebus puzzle - Nož, žica, Srebrenica" In 2018 Serbian fans shouted the slogan and others (in Vienna) after the World Cup game against Switzerland (12)

This rhetoric is also used abroad. In 2012 @pfc_levski against FK Sarajevo. 1st Photo is a banner that Sector B ultras held up during the 1st match in Sofia: "Ratko Mladić and Arkan fucked you, now it's our turn". The other is a motto poster made for their trip to Sarajevo (13)

Other examples can be found. At the End: The Srebrenica genocide, as sad and angry as it makes, is undoubtedly an important part of Bosnian identity. It creates cohesion. As such, the story is reproduced in the stadium and passed on to future generations. (14/14) #NeverForget