A message of solidarity came from the stands of the “Air Albania” stadium, where Albania is playing against Finland. Amid the red-and-black atmosphere, fans chose to send a special message, unfurling a large banner with the eye of Erjon Vishkulli, the young man who was seriously injured during the student protest in Tirana.
Vishkulli, a member of the fan base of the Albanian national team, was injured in his left eye on October 24, during clashes between protesters and police in the capital. He is suspected of having been hit by a rubber bullet, and after initial medical treatment in Albania he was sent to Italy for specialized care.
The banner displayed in the red-and-black stand brings the young man’s injury back into focus and serves as a message of support for him, on an evening when thousands of fans have come together to back the national team. Beyond the result on the pitch, the fans’ message shows that solidarity and the bond between them go beyond football. “Erjon, we are with you!” is the message carried from the stands of “Air Albania”.
