Serbian Hooligan Ivan Bogdanov: I Have Nothing Against Italy

The Serbia hooligan who allegedly sparked the trouble at Marassi before, during and after Italy's abandoned Euro 2012 qualifier has said the highly charged show of force was against his own team, not the Azzurri.

Ivan Bogdanov continues to hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but said his protests were not aimed at Italy.

"I have a military past in Serbia," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"I love my country. I have nothing against Italy, I have it with my team."

Not content with the tension that reached boiling point inside the ground on Tuesday night, violence spilled out onto the streets with inevitable conflict between riot police and ultras.

Bogdanov was arrested by police shortly after and he is being detained. He faces charges of aggravated damage, resisting arrest and violating a number of laws relating to public order offences.