EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP 1998/99
Sep 17 PARTIZAN BELGRADE - Yugoslavia (H) 2-1 (Shearer, Dabizas)
Given, Pearce, Charvet, Glass, Watson, Dabizas, Lee, Barnes, Speed, Shearer, Ketsbaia, Andersson. (Sub: Solano). Att: 26,599
Oct 1 PARTIZAN BELGRADE - Yugoslavia 0-1
Given, Pearce, Batty, Speed, Ketsbaia, Charvet, Glass, Solano, Dabizas, Griffin, Shearer. (Sub: Albert). Att: 26,000
It was our last ever appearance in the Cup Winners Cup and Civil War had just broken out in the country. Only private flights were allowed into Belgrade - which was officially a war zone.
To get there we had to travel by train to Manchester; fly from Manchester to Hamburg; get a flight from Hamburg to Munich; and a "business flight" from Munich to Belgrade.
When we got there we landed just as Belgrade was having an earthquake! The most frightening experience of my life.
Our hotel was actually a brothel and we had 24hour guard because of the anti-English feeling.
Inside the ground we were pelted with ballbearings, lighters, and anything that could be thrown. When their fans ran short of amunition, the riot police picked up the missiles and handed them BACK to the hooligans to throw again! Unbelievable.
The Day The Toon Went To War!
So .... back to that ban .... Partizan ran out 6-1 winners in the match played at Zrinjski stadium in the Bosnian town of Mostar, but events were overshadowed after violence flared in the stands between rival supporters early in the first half.
Riot police eventually quelled the disturbances but not before play had been held up for 13 minutes.
In addition to their elimination from this year's UEFA Cup, Partizan were also handed a 50,000 Swiss francs (30,056 euros) fine by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body.
The capital club have three days to appeal the decision.
In the last five years Partizan have played 36 European games and have been punished (by UEFA) 25 times!