Eternal derby (Serbia)

Eternal Derby

Red Star vs Partizan

The Eternal derby (Serbian: Вечити дерби, Večiti derbi) or Belgrade derby is a match between the fiercest city rivals Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, two of the biggest and most popular clubs in Serbia. Rivalry is present in a number of different sports but the most intensive matches are between football, basketball and handball sections of both clubs.

These two teams are the by far most popular in the country, with nearly 50% of the population support Red Star while 32.2% support Partizan. The clubs are the most popular ones in Montenegro and Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have supporters in all other former Yugoslav republics and these fans are in majority Serbs living in those countries. ^[1]

Partizan's colours are black and white while Red Star's are red and white.

Derby games were always greatly anticipated and quite spectacular, but in recent years the lower quality of sport that’s been displayed, as well as very large amount of violence and hooliganism, made the fall of the attendance an inevitable consequence. The greatest attendance was about 108,000 spectators.

Main articles: Grobari and Delije

Probably the best known thing about the Belgrade derby are the fans. Usually, they are much more exciting to watch than the game itself. Especially in recent times, since the Serbian championship has at times lacked in quality. Fans create an impressive atmosphere with loud cheering and original choreography. Both sides prepare intensely between the matches, make large flags and special messages that are appropriate for that particular occasion, to be usually directed towards the opposing side.

Partizan's supporters, known as Grobari (English: Gravediggers or [Undertakers] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)), were formed in 1970. The nickname itself was given by their biggest rivals the Red Star fans, referring to club's mostly black colours which were similar to official uniforms of cemetery undertakers. The other theory is that the name arrives from the Partizan's stadium street name - Humska (rough English translation might be Graves). First groups of organized Partizan fan supporters began to visit the JNA stadium in the late 1950s. Partizan's participation in the 1966 European Cup Final attracted much more fans to the stadium and is considered to be the crucial moment of the organized fans moving to a south stand of the stadium where they are gathering up to this day. During the 1970s as well as all over Europe, the Grobari started bringing fan equipments to the stadiums such as supporting scarfs, transparents, flags and flame torches (in the late 70's), which gave a whole new aspect to the sport club supporting. By the 1980s the Grobari were one of the four main fan groups in SFR Yugoslavia and began outmarching to all Partizan's games across the country and Europe. Because of their expressed hooliganism toward other club's supporters in those times, fans who represented the core of the Grobari firm were often referred to as a "punishment expedition". They were best known for their English style of supporting which was mainly based on loud and continuous singing. Today, the Grobari consist of three large groups: Južni Front, Grobari 1970 and Grobari Beograd.

Supporters of the various Red Star sports teams are known as Delije (Serbian: Делије, Delije). Delije is plural of the singular form delija which is originally a Turkish word that entered the Serbian language during the Ottoman occupation of Serbia and it was a colloquial name for a janissary. Nowadays the term in Serbian generally means brave, strong or even handsome young man. The name Delije first began to be used by hardcore Red Star supporters during late 1980s, with official inauguration taking place on January 7, 1989. Up to that point, the diehard Red Star fans were scattered amongst 7-8 fan groups that shared the north stand at the Red Star Stadium (known colloquially as Marakana), most prominent of which were Red Devils, Zulu Warriors, and Ultras. As a sign of appreciation the Red Star Football Club painted the word Delije in block letters across their stadium's north stand - the gathering point of the club's most loyal and passionate fans. They are called Cigani (English: Gypsies) by their arch rivals Grobari, fans of Partizan. Although, Delije generally considered the name Cigani to be insulting, they occasionally use this name in their own songs and chants.

Incidents involving both fan groups as well as riot police can be seen before, during and after derby games. The biggest incident occurred on October 30, 1999 at the Stadion Partizana, when a 17 year old Red Star fan was killed by a signal rocket fired from Grobari's stand.[2] More recently, fights between two rival groups are not necessarily connected with match day. In one of these arranged fights in 2006, a Partizan fan was stabbed to death by a Red Star fan.[3]

Red Star was formed on March 4, 1945 by new communist civil authorities in Yugoslavia. Partizan was founded on October 4, 1945 as a club of Yugoslav People's Army. Although Belgrade had it's football club before World War II - BSK, which was very successful in pre-war Yugoslav championships, the clubs very fast became the most popular ones in Belgrade and entire Serbia. The first match between these football sections was played on January 5, 1947 and Red Star won 3-4.

Red Star is the only Serbian club that has won a UEFA competition, winning the 1991 European Cup in Bari, Italy. The same year in Tokyo, Japan the club won the Intercontinental Cup. Red Star lost the European Super Cup finals that year to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup champion Manchester United. The club also made the final of the UEFA Cup in 1979, losing to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Red Star also has won a record 25 national league titles and 22 national cups.

Partizan participated in the first ever European Cup game that took place on September 3, 1955 in Lisbon against Sporting. The final result of this game was 3-3. Partizan also became the first club from Eastern Europe to have played in a European Cup final, losing it to Real Madrid 1-2, after eliminating Manchester United in the semifinals. In more recent years, the club played in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League season, thus becoming the first ever and until today the only Serbian club to reach the group stage, after eliminating Newcastle United on the penalties in the last qualifying round. Partizan has won 20 national league titles and 10 national cups.

Main articles: Stadion Partizana and Stadion Crvena Zvezda

When host is Partizan, the derby is played at the "Stadion Partizana", formerly known as "Stadion JNA" which is still the common name for the stadium. It was opened in 1949. The capacity is 32,710 although before UEFA demands it was 55,000. Partizan fans call it "Fudbalski Hram" (English: "Temple of the Football"). The Delije often use the insulting name Lavor (English: "The Washbowl") and Pepeljara (English: "Ashtray")

When Red Star is a host, the derby is played at the "Stadion Crvena Zvezda" colloquially known as "Marakana" after the famous Brazilian stadium. It was opened in 1963. The capacity is 55,000 although before UEFA demands it was 110,000. The Delije often call it shortly "Mara". The Grobari use the insulting name "Rupa" (English: "The Hole").

Until today 135 derby games were played in the domestic league.

The highest victory was achieved by Partizan on December 6, 1953 and the result was 7-1. Red Star's highest triumph was 6-1 and the game was played on November 17, 1968. [4]

KK Partizan was the European champion in 1992 with curiosity of winning the title, although playing all but one of the games (crucial quarter-final game vs. Knorr) on foreign grounds; FIBA decided not to allow teams from Former Yugoslavia to play their home games at their home venues, because of open hostilities in the region. KK Partizan was not allowed to defend the title in the 1992-1993 season, because of UN sanctions. They also won 3 Radivoj Korać Cups in 1978, 1979 and 1989 and the NLB League in 2007 and 2008. KK Partizan is the defending Serbian basketball champion and the holder of 15 national champion titles, of which the last seven were won in a row. They have also won 10 national basketball cups.

KK Red Star was the winner of the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1974. The club has also won 15 national championships (the last was won in 1998) and 5 national cups. In the last few years Red Star is inferior to its "eternal rival". Due to its management's constant reminders that they're building for the next season - the club earned a derisive nickname "KK Sledeća sezona" (English: "Next Season Basketball Club") amongst rival Partizan fans. [5]

The Pionir Hall (Serbian, Хала Пионир / Hala Pionir) is a sports arena in Belgrade located in the Belgrade's municipality of Palilula. The capacity of the arena is 7,000 seats. It is home terrain for both rivals. During derbies Grobari are on the east stand of the hall while Delije are concentrated on the west stand. Recently, because of frequent violent clashes between two groups, the clubs are not selling derby match tickets and the host's fans are 90% majority in the hall.

• Večiti derbi on Delije blog
• RED STAR'S AND PARTIZAN'S RESULTS, PLACEMENTS AND WON TROPHIES IN ALL SPORTS