UEFA president worried that drones could drop bombs on football pitches

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Albania\'s Bekim Balaj, left, and Serbia\'s Nenad Tomovic, fight over a flag banner that was suspended by a drone during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The 2016 European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned on Tuesday after skirmishes broke out on the pitch involving players and fans over an Albanian flag that was flown above the stadium by a drone. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

PARIS – UEFA President Michel Platini fears that drones could be used to drop bombs on football pitches.

Speaking to French TV channel TF1, Platini made his comments after an Albanian nationalist banner flown by a drone over a stadium in Belgrade ignited a brawl on the field and fueled political tensions between Balkan rivals Serbia and Albania.

Platini called the incident “shameful,” and expressed his fears about possible drone attacks in the future.

The Frenchman said “just imagine that a drone carrying a bomb instead of a flag comes to a ground. Everything is becoming dangerous, especially in the countries where there are a great deal of political tensions.”

UEFA opened disciplinary cases against Serbia and Albania after the incidents forced their European Championship qualifier to be abandoned in the first half.

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