Skopje, 6 August 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova has responded to last night's nationalistic chants by the fans of football club Shkendija during the Champions League qualifier against Azerbaijan's Qarabag in Skopje on Tuesday.

"A general condemnation of fans' primitivism gave us hope about the firm resolve in managing this unsportsmanlike phenomenon. The calls for an end to the nationalistic and chauvinist chants from the stands sounded like enlightenment. However, yesterday's scenes at the Shkendija-Qarabag game were a rerun of the tragic story from Kumanovo. Hypocrisy and cynicism is a selective reaction to unsportsmanlike vandalism. Consistent and uncompromising battle against chauvinist outpouring, regardless of the source, leads to a healthy society," says President Siljanovska Davkova in a Facebook post.

Yesterday, the President also reacted to the chants at the Macedonia-Romania basketball game over the weekend, saying it is unsportsmanlike to abuse the sports field to "practice" hate speech and insults.

The Shkendija supporters chanted "Ilirida" and "Great Albania" on numerous occasions during the game. The Ministry of Interior said it would sanction nationalistic outpouring as it did swiftly after a group of fans chanted nationalistic slogans and used hate speech during Saturday's basketball match.

MIA file photo