POLICING FOOTBALL VIOLENCE AND ETHNIC HATRED IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

This paper explores the link of the ethnic hatred and violence during football games in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina went though destructive war (1992-1995) which involved armed conflict between three ethnic groups’ i. e. Bosniaks, dominantly Muslims, Serbs, dominantly Orthodox and Croats, dominantly Catholics. The war left behind around 100.000 casualties, and large number of displaced person. Behind the human casualties and destruction of property and infrastructure, hatred between ethnic groups can be considered as one destructive of the consequences of the war. Sports events in such a social environment are the trigger, the reason of the ethnically motivated violence. Policing football violence in ethnically complex environment is a great challenge for police force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.