BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — A Serbian court has dropped charges against six soccer hooligans who allegedly chanted death threats against an independent TV journalist during an Europa League match.
Prosecutors had charged the six with violent behavior and threatening the safety of the journalist. The court ruled Thursday that B92 reporter Brankica Stankovic was insulted but not threatened.
Footage from the match in December between Partizan Belgrade and Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk showed thousands chanting threats and insults at Stankovic. They also tossed and punctured an inflatable rubber effigy of her.
Stankovic had reported that hooligan leaders were involved in crime.
The prosecutor’s office says it will appeal the court ruling.