Marko Jovanovi\u0107, head coach of Teleoptik, confirmed that he was assaulted yesterday and identified his attackers as two prominent football hooligan leaders allegedly close to Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) \u2013 \u0110or\u0111e Preli\u0107, known as Prela, and Aleksandar Vukovi\u0107. Both men are well known to the Serbian public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to reports, the attackers are associated with the Serbian Progressive Party, are frequent participants in the so-called “\u0106aciland” gatherings and other events organized by the party, and allegedly enjoy protection that allows them to act with impunity. \u0110or\u0111e Preli\u0107 is a convicted killer of French football supporter Brice Taton and one of the leaders of Partizan Belgrade’s “Alcatraz” supporters’ group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jovanovi\u0107’s full statement, published by FK Partizan, reads as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“First of all, I want to thank everyone for the tremendous support I have received following yesterday’s incident. I have received hundreds of messages from friends, former and current players, people from the football community, Partizan supporters, and many others who stood by me during this difficult time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I do not wish to generate additional publicity from this incident, although I have received numerous requests for interviews and television appearances. However, I believe it is in the public interest to know all the facts and details about what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even now, 24 hours later, I honestly cannot say why I was attacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I arrived at the Partizan-Teleoptik Sports Center, I found \u0110or\u0111e Preli\u0107 accompanied by two young men whom I did not know. When I approached him, he pulled me aside and, in an aggressive tone, complained that I had not obtained FK Partizan jerseys for him as he had requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I told him I would try to get them but that I was currently overwhelmed because my sister is seriously ill. He replied that he did not care. After exchanging a few more words, he took off his sunglasses and suddenly punched me in the head. I tried to defend myself but was then struck again by one of the men with him, whom I later learned was Aleksandar Vukovi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that, \u0110or\u0111e Preli\u0107 forcibly took my mobile phone and continued insulting me together with Aleksandar Vukovi\u0107. A few minutes later, I managed to enter the Partizan-Teleoptik Sports Center building, where the receptionist called the police at my request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I should point out that the third man, whose name I still do not know, did not participate in the assault and even tried to protect me by saying, ‘Don’t touch him. He’s one of our Partizan brothers.’ The three of them then got into a car and drove away in an unknown direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I want to emphasize that I had no personal relationship with \u0110or\u0111e Preli\u0107 other than his previous requests that I obtain Partizan jerseys for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I also want to inform the public that, after this unfortunate incident, I seriously considered resigning and informed members of my coaching staff of my decision. At a moment when my mother, my seriously ill sister, my children asking what had happened, and my wife\u2014who is eight months pregnant and accompanied me to the Emergency Center\u2014were all calling me, it is impossible to remain unaffected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, after a night’s sleep, after receiving countless messages of support, after the statement issued by the Grobari Jug supporters’ stand, for which I am sincerely grateful, and after conversations with the club president and general director, I decided to remain head coach of FK Teleoptik’s first team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I believe that resigning now could be interpreted as a message that such incidents can be ignored and that violence can prevail. I refuse to allow that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, I wish to inform the public that I have reported the entire case and have given my statement to the police. I expect a swift and decisive response from the competent authorities.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0110or\u0111e Preli\u0107 has long been known to the public because of his criminal record and was recently photographed at an SNS rally titled “Serbia One Family.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second attacker, 27-year-old Aleksandar Vukovi\u0107, is less widely known, although he has also appeared in crime reports. He survived a shooting in Zemun on June 23, 2022, and is reportedly one of the leaders of the Partizan supporters’ group “Vandal Boys,” the Zemun branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Belgrade police identified the men who, in broad daylight on June 23, opened fire on the vehicle in which Vukovi\u0107 was traveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to reports, three attackers waited in ambush inside a dark-colored Ford Fiesta. When Vukovi\u0107 drove past them in a Volkswagen Golf 6, they began following him. During the pursuit, they collided with another vehicle while making a U-turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The driver of the damaged vehicle attempted to block their path, but the occupants of the Ford allegedly drew firearms, causing him to flee. They then continued chasing the leader of the “Vandal Boys.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they caught up with the Golf, the attackers opened fire. Vukovi\u0107 and another passenger escaped in one direction, while the gunmen fled in another. No one was injured in the shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent years, Zemun has witnessed frequent violent clashes between rival football supporter groups, with Partizan fans, including Vukovi\u0107, actively involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among supporters, Vukovi\u0107 is said not to have been an original leader but rather an assistant who rose to prominence after several leaders of the “Vandal Boys” left the group, allegedly with support from the ruling party. He is described as an aggressive individual with a reputation for violence and was reportedly a close friend of Demir Juki\u0107, a young Partizan supporter killed in a gang-related shooting in Belgrade’s Ivan Ribar neighborhood in 2017. That murder has never been solved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vukovi\u0107 has also been linked not only to the Serbian Progressive Party but also to controversial Kosovo Serb businessman Milan Radoi\u010di\u0107, who allegedly hired him for various “jobs.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0110or\u0111e Preli\u0107, meanwhile, was one of the men convicted in the murder of French football supporter Brice Taton in Belgrade. The rival supporter groups clashed in downtown Belgrade, and according to the indictment, Taton was brutally beaten before later dying from his injuries in hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Preli\u0107 fled Serbia before the verdict was delivered and was initially sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison. He was later arrested in Barcelona, extradited to Serbia, and retried, receiving a reduced sentence of 10 years. After serving two-thirds of his sentence, he was released in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His release from prison sparked controversy, with parts of the public questioning the circumstances surrounding his early release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murder was not the only offense on his criminal record. He has also faced charges related to violent behavior, illegal weapons possession, and causing grievous bodily harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the report, the authorities later reintroduced Preli\u0107 into the Partizan supporters’ ranks and allegedly assigned him to the stands in an effort to discipline fans chanting against Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107. He has reportedly been seen at “\u0106aciland” events and SNS rallies, often in the company of members of the Vu\u010di\u0107 family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report further claims that, as a reward for his services to the authorities, Preli\u0107 was awarded contracts related to the EXPO construction project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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