Serbian president revealed how much Partizan and Zvezda owe in taxes / News - Basketnews.com

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, explained why he has made his support for Crvena Zvezda publicly known and shared the amounts that Partizan and Red Star owe to the state.

Credit: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes - Scanpix Credit REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes - Scanpix

There is often a debate about the exact figure that Serbia's and Belgrade's two biggest clubs, Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, own to the state.

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Both clubs occasionally announce their balances and give out certain information, but now the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has come out with figures that he claims are their correct tax obligations.

As a guest on Pink TV, Vucic pointed out that he believes there is nothing controversial in the fact that his fan orientation is known, and then he referred to the issue of the clubs' debts to the state.

But first, Vucic tried to explain why he has been attacked by certain people due to his expressed support for Zvezda.

"I thought it had something to do with sports, with the fact that I don't hide that I support Zvezda. I guess it's normal that you don't hide it and you don't lie to your people," he initially stated.

He then cited some politicians who have disclosed the team they're rooting for.

"[Antonio] Tajani supports Juventus, Giorgio Meloni supports Roma, the president and vice president are in the same government, and no one has a problem with that. Helmut Kohl supported Kaiserslautern, John Major supported Chelsea, and so on.

I thought it had something to do with sports because of the somewhat greater success of Crvena Zvezda," said Vucic and added:

"When you look at it together, Partizan football and basketball clubs owe the state 26 million euros in overdue tax obligations. And FC and KK Crvena Zvezda, due to the last payment of the Football Club, which was a significant amount of 7.3 million euros, owe a little less than three million euros," the Serbian politician revealed.

Vucic complained that especially Partizan fans call him derogatory names.

"Then I f--- the fans of that club because we let them not pay, and the others have to pay," Vucic said, adding:

"Vojvodina is perhaps the healthiest club in our country, as well as FC Cukaricki and some other private clubs," the Serbian president pointed out.

Red Star, because of Vucic, are considered by many to be the favored side. Partizan fans, in particular, are convinced that their rival has great privileges only because the president is a fan of the club.

The tension between the two sides has been high lately. There have also been fierce clashes, and no such hatred has been seen between great rivals for a long time.

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