According to the investigation, the alleged discussions began shortly after Serbia failed to qualify for the 2020 UEFA European Championship.
Leaked encrypted messages have allegedly exposed a disturbing plot by former Serbian Football Association (FSS) president Slaviša Kokeza to intimidate, threaten, and potentially orchestrate violent attacks against former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidić after the retired defender publicly criticised the leadership of Serbian football.
The messages, uncovered by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in collaboration with Serbian investigative outlet KRIK, suggest that Kokeza discussed using individuals linked to organised crime and football hooligan groups to silence Vidić and other former Serbian internationals who supported his calls for reform.
The revelations stem from conversations conducted on Sky ECC, an encrypted communications platform widely used by criminal networks before European law enforcement agencies infiltrated the service in 2021.
According to the investigation, the alleged discussions began shortly after Serbia failed to qualify for the 2020 UEFA European Championship.
