Former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has spoken publicly for the first time in English about a chilling set of messages that warned him to stay away from Serbian football’s governing body or face dire consequences.
A Threatening Correspondence
The threats, obtained by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and Serbian outlet KRIK, were sent by Slavisa Kokeza, the former president of the Football Association of Serbia, after Vidic criticized the federation’s leadership in 2020 following Serbia’s failure to qualify for the European Championship.
The correspondence referenced monitoring, intimidation and even physical assault, warning Vidic to stay away from the association or he will end up in a ditch and alluding to a cemetery destination, indicating a plan to eliminate him.
Political Undercurrents
The messages emerged amid a broader pattern of political interference in Serbian football, with Vidic noting that the sport is hamstrung by cronyism and criminal elements that have stifled progress.
He pointed out that fellow internationals Nemanja Matic, Danko Lazovic and Dragan Mrda were also mentioned in the same messages, suggesting a coordinated effort to silence dissenting voices.
Investigation and Reactions
Serbian prosecutors have opened a criminal case, forwarding the matter to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime, while OCCRP has confirmed that Kokeza did not respond to inquiries.
The Athletic attempted to contact Kokeza and the Football Association of Serbia, but both entities declined to comment, leaving the allegations unanswered.
A Vision for Reform
Despite the intimidation, Vidic remains committed to improving Serbian football, arguing that the sport can serve as a social glue, teach rules and foster a new generation of healthy citizens.
He has previously floated the idea of leading the federation in 2023, only to withdraw a day before the election, citing the need for a united, long‑term development plan spanning a decade or more.