Nemanja Vidić, legendary former captain of Manchester United, faced death threats after publicly criticizing the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) due to the country's failure to qualify for Euro 2020. The revelation was made by Vidić himself in an exclusive interview with The Athletic, where he detailed the impact of these threats on his personal and professional life.
Following Serbia's defeat to Scotland in the penalty shootout, which prevented qualification for the postponed 2021 European Championship due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Vidić wrote an open letter to the FSS. As the most famous Serbian player and former captain of Manchester United, his words carry significant weight, but the response he received exceeded expectations, resembling scenes from a gangster movie. The former player revealed that threatening messages, allegedly sent by Slavisa Kokeza, former president of the FSS, included warnings to “stay away from the association or end up in a grave.” The messages, obtained by OCCRP and the Serbian investigative portal KRIK, also indicated that Vidić was being monitored and that there were discussions of physical attacks against him.
In his first interview in English on the subject, Vidić explained his initial reaction: “My first thought was sarcasm, something like: ‘This will be interesting if I ever write a book.’” However, upon reading the messages, “I changed my attitude when I realized the seriousness of the threats.” The former international, who has played 56 matches for Serbia, confessed to being surprised to learn that Kokeza had spoken to third parties to intimidate him and that a tracker had been placed on his car. “Some friends advised me to be careful, but I spoke out because I love Serbian football and wanted it to improve for the good of the country, the players, and the coaches. I made no deals and have no political connections; I merely expressed my opinion.”
Vidić emphasized that the threats also targeted other players, such as Nemanja Matić, in an attempt to silence them. Although he did not feel personally intimidated, he admitted that “it was different for my family when they read those messages.” Furthermore, he lamented not achieving more with the Serbian national team and advocated for the importance of football as a tool to develop not only athletes but also “good humans” and leaders, highlighting the value of teamwork and respect for the rules.
Following this scandal, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime in Serbia has opened an investigation. In a statement, it confirmed that “a case has been initiated based on public complaints and that Vidić has been summoned to provide testimony.” The body is gathering information with the Ministry of Interior, including communications from the former president of the FSS, Slavisa Kokeza, and promises to continue acting within its jurisdiction.
This case exposes a dark facet of Serbian football and puts the administration of the FSS under scrutiny, as justice seeks to establish accountability. Vidić's courage in denouncing these irregularities raises a warning about the toxic environment that may exist in football, with implications that go far beyond the pitch.
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