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STEREOTYPES: Norwegian Serb Mirjana Zivanovic reacts to Supernytt’s article on the behavior of Serbian soccer players on the soccer field and believes that it contributes to reinforcing negative stereotypes about Serbs. Photo: Private / Taken from NRK
A feature of NRK Supernytt in which Serbs are portrayed as “aggressive on the football field” has sparked strong reactions. NRK has received 39 complaints about the feature.
The controversial television feature was broadcast in connection with the Norwegian national soccer team’s meeting against Serbia in the Euro Cup qualifiers on Thursday night. As you know, the soccer match ended 1-2 in favor of Serbia.
The feature film problematized the topic of “dirty tricks on the soccer field.” In that context, a video clip of a Serbian soccer player was shown pushing his opponents. This is followed by the comment: “The Serbs have shown before that they can be aggressive on the pitch.”
It is especially this comment that has stirred the minds of Norwegian Serbs.
NRK Publikumsservice states that they have received 27 complaints about the feature so far. The secretary of the Norwegian Broadcasting Council, Erik Skarrud, tells VG that they have received 12 complaints.
Read NRK’s answer at the bottom of the case.
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– Generalizing
– NRK wants to show that it is not okay to be aggressive on the soccer field, but the way they express themselves can lead those who see the report to think that all Serbs are aggressive, says Mirjana Zivanovic, deputy director of the Serbian Academic Association of Norway, to VG.
She usually works as a Norwegian teacher at a secondary school in Oslo and is among those who react strongly to the role of Supernytt.
– We believe that the message can be easily misinterpreted and we perceive it as very generalizing and as something that helps to reinforce the negative stereotypes that unfortunately exist about Serbs, he says.
Zivanovic emphasizes that he understands that the function is located in a “sports context”, but reacts to such a message that is sent to children.
DISAPPOINTED AFTER THE LITTLE ONE: Erling Braut Haaland passes an exhausted Aleksandar Kolarov (lying) and Nemanja Gudelj after losing to Serbia. Photo: Bjorn Steinar Delebekk, VG
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After the show was broadcast on television, the reactions, according to the association, have not been long in coming in the Norwegian-Serbian community and on social media.
– We have been contacted by Serbian parents who react to the show and say that the children have had horrible episodes at school, he says.
– What are these disturbing reactions?
– There are children who, among other things, have experienced that their classmates do not want to eat or play with them.
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Submitted a complaint to NRK
The Academic Association of Serbia has sent a letter of complaint to NRK asking for an unreserved apology.
Zivanovic also says she is unhappy with the response she and other Norwegian Serbs have received from NRK.
In a message, the state channel defends the characteristic as follows:
“We believe and hope that the children will be able to see this for themselves in relation to the soccer game and that they understand that it is about the game that takes place on the field. We also do not believe that it has much to say about the relationship and the building of bridges. among children, as many are too young to know or remember any of the events in the media coverage before. ”
– NRK has an important social mission and in it lies the responsibility to protect children from content that may have negative consequences for them, he says.
– What specifically do you expect from the NRK side?
– We want them to be honest in the sense that they have not been able to get the message across in the right way, says Zivanovic.
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NRK Supernytt: – It could be a tough match
NRK Supernytt’s project manager Frank Sivertsen says they have had no desire to stigmatize Serbs or others.
– It’s a completely strange thought for us. If someone has perceived other intentions than this, we think it is sad, he tells VG.
He explains that NRK before the Serbia match was concerned that it could be a difficult match.
– Our intention was, as the host also says, that when it is a very important match that both teams want to win, the players can resort to dirty tricks to win. This applies to all national teams, both Norway and Serbia, he says.
– This case is about Serbia because it was Serbia that we faced in the decisive match. We could have had the same angle on the matter if we met Sweden or Denmark, because in decisive matches the players quickly become very aggressive, continues Sivertsen.
