On Friday 7th Sept it's the 30th anniversary of Dundalk's clash with 'crack Eastern European outfit' Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup. Local journalist Gavin McLaughlin has put together a great article on the tie.
https://dundalksport.ie/dfc-the-blon...e-b507a5770209
This was of course just a couple of years before football and Europe changed entirely. English clubs were banned, so just 31 teams entered the competition, in a straight knockout. Dejan Savicevic made his Red Star debut against Dundalk. The break up of Yugoslavia was imminent.
There was an additional subtext to the match discovered later, with the leader of Red Star's notorious Delije ultras in attendance. 'Arkan' went on to become an infamous paramilitary leader during the fractious break up of Yugoslavia, and was indicted for crimes against humanity before his murder in 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkan
https://dundalksport.ie/dfc-the-blon...e-b507a5770209
This was of course just a couple of years before football and Europe changed entirely. English clubs were banned, so just 31 teams entered the competition, in a straight knockout. Dejan Savicevic made his Red Star debut against Dundalk. The break up of Yugoslavia was imminent.
There was an additional subtext to the match discovered later, with the leader of Red Star's notorious Delije ultras in attendance. 'Arkan' went on to become an infamous paramilitary leader during the fractious break up of Yugoslavia, and was indicted for crimes against humanity before his murder in 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkan
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