Top News

Manchester United great Nemanja Vidic has shared his response to receiving alleged death threats following his public criticism of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), which came after the national team failed to qualify for Euro 2020.

According to The Athletic, Vidic penned an open letter to the FSS after Serbia lost to Scotland on penalties in the Euro 2020 playoff. The tournament, initially scheduled for 2020, was postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report highlights that as one of Serbia’s most iconic footballers and a former Manchester United captain, Vidic’s comments carried significant influence. However, the chain of events that followed was more akin to a crime drama than a sporting controversy—something the 44-year-old said he never could have anticipated.

The Athletic further notes that Vidic was recently approached by journalists from the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a respected investigative journalism organisation. Working alongside Serbian outlet KRIK, the OCCRP found evidence suggesting that the then FSS president, Slavisa Kokeza, had allegedly sent messages to arrange the surveillance, intimidation, and possible assault of Vidic. The messages also mentioned other former Serbian internationals, including Nemanja Matic, Danko Lazovic, and Dragan Mrda.

These threats reportedly emerged soon after Vidic publicly criticised Kokeza. The Athletic confirmed that it had seen the messages obtained by the OCCRP and KRIK, which included explicit threats towards the 56-cap Serbian international, warning him to “stay away from the association or he will end up in a ditch.”

The messages also contained a chilling reference to someone going “to the cemetery.” The sender identified themselves as the “president of the association,” leading investigators to believe Kokeza was behind them.

In his first English-language interview about the matter, Vidic told The Athletic about his initial reaction upon learning of the messages. “My first reaction probably came from the type of humour I picked up after living in Manchester for nine years: sarcasm. I said something like, ‘Well, that will be interesting if I ever write a book,’” he recalled. “Then I changed after I read the messages and saw how serious the threats were. I was surprised to be told Slavisa Kokeza had spoken to people about me. That I had a tracker fitted to my car. That bad people were talking about attacking me.”

Vidic added, “At the time of the original comments, some friends called me and said, ‘Listen, Vida, you should be careful.’ They were giving friendly advice. But I spoke up because I felt passionately about Serbian football. It’s something I love and believe should be improved for the good of the country, its players, coaches, and everyone in the system. I know football. I didn’t make any deals or have any political ties. These were my honest opinions.”

He continued, “There were other players mentioned in those messages too. People tried to find ways to threaten them, to silence them, and to discourage them from supporting me. Am I not allowed to express my views on football here?”

Vidic said that while he personally did not feel afraid, the threats affected his family. “It was different for my family when they read these things,” he said, adding that no police or government agency had contacted him about the situation.

Explaining his motivation for speaking out against the FSS, Vidic reiterated that his intention was to be constructive and sincere. “Yes. I have only one regret in life: that I didn’t achieve more with the Serbian national team. We are a nation full of talent, and I saw room for improvement. I spoke after Serbia didn’t qualify for Euro 2020, and people blamed the players and coaches. It wasn’t about them—it was about the system. People didn’t ask why we failed. It was hard for some to hear, but I believed that those willing to listen could learn from it.”

Despite the World Cup in North America expanding from 32 to 48 teams, Serbia once again failed to qualify, finishing third in their group—just one point behind rivals Albania. The outcome, Vidic’s earlier criticisms suggest, remains a reflection of deeper structural issues in Serbian football.

Vidic also emphasised the broader social value of football. “We must help our young generations not just to become athletes, but good human beings. Football teaches teamwork, discipline, and respect—qualities valuable in any area of life. You learn to work with people you may not like, but you share a common goal. Hard work and dedication bring results, and that’s what football should teach.”

The Athletic reported that one day after their interview with Vidic, KRIK published a follow-up story confirming that Serbian prosecutors had launched an investigation into the matter. The complaint had been referred to Serbia’s organised crime prosecutors.

When contacted by The Athletic, the Serbian Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime issued a statement confirming that it was aware of the alleged threats made by Slavisa Kokeza against Vidic, based on reports by KRIK. It stated: “A case has been established within this Prosecutor’s Office, and Mr Vidic’s lawyers have submitted a criminal complaint. Mr Vidic has been summoned to provide a statement, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been asked to gather all relevant information, including SKY ECC communications involving the former FSS president and his associates.”

The statement concluded by affirming that “the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime will continue to take all necessary actions within its jurisdiction during this pre-investigation phase.”

Neither Kokeza, who resigned from his position in 2021, nor the FSS responded to requests for comment from either The Athletic or the OCCRP. The interview with Vidic was conducted by Andy Mitten in a deeply revealing report on the misuse of authority within Serbian football.