Serbian lawmakers urgently amended the criminal law Friday to pave the way for tougher penalties against far-right hooligan violence.

The parliament voted in favor of extending pretrial detention for those taking part in the riots on the streets and at sports venues from eight to 30 days in prison.

The urgency in adopting the changes was prompted by fears of major violence at a football match between Red Star and Partizan in Belgrade on Saturday.

Fears about Saturday’s match increased after dozens of people were injured when extremists clashed with police as they tried to disrupt a gay pride march in the capital last Sunday. Two days later, Serbian hooligans rioted in Italy during a European Championship qualifying match, causing it to be called off after seven minutes.

During the two-day debate in the parliament, nationalist lawmakers claimed the pro-Western governing coalition is not concerned about hooliganism, but fears social upheaval because of the Balkan country’s deep economic crisis.

The Red Star and Partizan fan groups are known to be infiltrated by neo-fascist and other extremist groups with a staunch anti-Western and antidemocratic agenda.

October 22, 2010
Associated Press

• A Permanent Economic Emergency