The Swedish striker of Bosnian origin Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the subject of racist slurs on Thursday in Belgrade during the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League between his AC Milan team and the Red Star of Belgrade.
On images broadcast by the N1 channel showing the player seated in the stands of the club stadium in the Serbian capital, we hear the voice of a man repeatedly insulting Ibrahimovic, qualifying him in particular as "stinking Balija".
In Serbia, it's far from being a compliment.
It is the pejorative name given to Bosnian Muslims by Serbian nationalists.
In the Balkans, all the wounds of the war for independence in the provinces of the former Yugoslavia have not been healed.
"The Red Star apologizes for what Ibrahimovic experienced in our house"
Ibrahimovic did not seem to react or retaliate, welcoming the insults with phlegm.
Serbian supporters are regularly singled out for their violence.
The meeting was however in principle played behind closed doors.
But the stadium boxes, located at the top of the west stand, a few hundred seats, were full.
These seats are not on sale and are usually reserved for club guests and the press.
In a statement released this Friday, the Belgrade club strongly condemned these scandalous remarks: "The Red Star condemns most vigorously the insults addressed to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Red Star apologizes for what Ibrahimovic went through in our house.
The club promises to cooperate with the authorities to find the individual responsible for this incident and "insists that he be punished adequately" adds the club.