Serb players quit Albania club after flag incident

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian football club FK Apolonia says two Serbian players have left the topflight team following an incident involving the Albanian flag.

The incident occurred on March 22, when Serbian goalkeeper Vilson Cakovic grabbed the flag from a fan who ran onto the pitch before a penalty shot.

Club manager Kamber Memallaj said on Wednesday that Cakovic and countryman and midfielder Djordje Djordjevic agreed to quit "fearing the lack of a calm atmosphere at future games."

Traditional animosity between the Balkan countries was rekindled last year when a drone carrying a nationalist Albanian banner was flown into a Belgrade stadium hosting a Euro 2016 qualifier between Albania and Serbia.

Apolonia lies ninth in the 10-team Kategoria Superiore.