Group calls for Partizan management resignations over governance and performance concerns

A group comprising former players, coaches and sports workers has called for the immediate and irrevocable resignation of the entire management of FK Partizan. The initiative, operating under the name Apel za spas Partizana, issued a statement demanding accountability for what it described as undemocratic governance and poor sporting outcomes. This appeal follows earlier public requests for resignation from former goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković and former player and coach Ivan Golac.

The group alleged that the current leadership assumed power under circumstances that violated the club Statute and the Law on Sport of the Republic of Serbia. They questioned the legitimacy of a new Statute adopted on the same day as the leadership election, noting that its own provisions stated it would only enter into force eight days after publication. The statement suggested that the rules were created by the leadership to suit their own election.

Specific concerns were raised regarding the election of Rasim Ljajić as club president. The group cited legal prohibitions against members of sports organization boards simultaneously holding functions in political parties. Although Ljajić had claimed to freeze his party role, public records indicated he signed the Social Democratic Party of Serbia's 2025 financial report as an authorized person on 4 August 2026. The statement also criticized Ljajić for participating in campaign events and visiting the Šabac fair while the team suffered a severe results crisis.

The appeal further criticized the club's personnel policy, specifically the appointment of Danko Lazović as general director. The group stated that the Statute had been adjusted to remove requirements for higher education, allowing Lazović, who has completed secondary school and a UEFA course, to take the role. They argued that a UEFA course is not a substitute for higher education and that rules should not be adapted to fit individuals.

Sporting performance was highlighted as a key consequence of the current management. Partizan failed to qualify for the league phase of any European competition and currently sits in one of its worst historical league positions. The group also noted that the youth academy, traditionally a foundation of the club's development, has been marginalized in favor of signing foreign players whose quality and contribution remain questionable.

Regarding finances, the statement challenged the management's claims of successful consolidation. It asserted that the state of Serbia provided approximately 20,000,000 euros in direct and indirect aid, including through sponsorship contracts, which facilitated debt repayment. The group argued that receiving such public funds does not equate to earning revenue through business operations and that true consolidation requires independence from state support.