Komiti Skopje
| Komiti | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Komiti Skopje Komiti Zapad[1] |
| Established | 1987 |
| Type | Supporters' group Ultras group[1] |
| Team | FK Vardar RK Vardar |
| Location | Skopje, North Macedonia |
| Arena | Boris Trajkovski Stadium Jane Sandanski Arena |
| Colors | Red, black |
Komiti Skopje (Macedonian: Комити Скопје) are a supporters' group and ultras group that follows the Macedonian sports clubs that compete under the Vardar banner, mainly FK Vardar in football and RK Vardar in handball.
History
Komiti was established in 1987 in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as a football fan association by young Macedonians.[2] The name derives from the name of the members of the anti-Ottoman chetas called Komitadjis.[3] Per Komiti's written code of conduct, it accepts people from across the political spectrum and forbids talking to journalists.[4] Apart from supporting FK Vardar, it has supported RK Vardar.[5]
Komiti was the basis of the youth wing of the political party VMRO-DPMNE during the 1990s. Komiti members, while watching their team, Vardar Skopje, had often displayed banners in support of convicted war criminal Johan Tarčulovski, who was a leader of the ultras. In 2011, Komiti (mobilized through social media) and ethnic Macedonians had a clash with ethnic Albanian supporters' group Shvercerat (Sverceri, Smugglers)[3] and ethnic Albanians at the Skopje Fortress over the construction of a church-like building by the VMRO-DPMNE government.[4]
In May 2014, part of the members of the Komiti violently entered the stadium in Štip without any tickets during the football match between Bregalnica and Vardar, injuring a police officer and a fan.[6] In July 2018, it honored their murdered member, Nikola Sazdovski-Sazdo, during a football match between Vardar and Pjunik.[7] In December 2025, members of Komiti were arrested in Bitola after attacking police officers,[8] having a fight with the supporters' group from Bitola, Čkembari, beforehand.[9] In a humanitarian action in February 2026, it gave 23,000 denars to an auction for the jersey of football player Stojanče Velinov, for funds to build a memorial for the victims of the 2025 Kočani nightclub fire.[10]
References
- ^ a b Mark Doidge; Radosław Kossakowski; Svenja Mintert (2020). Ultras: The Passion and Performance of Contemporary Football Fandom. Manchester University Press. p. 80. ISBN 9781526127624.
- ^ Židas Daskalovski (2006). Walking on the Edge: Consolidating Multiethnic Macedonia, 1989-2004. Globic Press. p. 24. ISBN 9780977666232.
- ^ a b Maria Couroucli; Tchavdar Marinov, eds. (2017). Balkan Heritages: Negotiating History and Culture. Taylor & Francis. pp. 125–126. ISBN 9781134800759.
- ^ a b "Political Football: The Balkans' Belligerent Ultras Avoid Penalties". Balkan Insight. 30 November 2012.
- ^ "„Комити" се насекаде каде игра Вардар – „црвено-црно" славје на ракометарите и навивачите". 24rakomet.mk (in Macedonian). 10 March 2026.
- ^ "„Комити" насилно влегле на стадионот во Штип – повредени полицаец и навивач". Kanal 5 (in Macedonian). 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Фото: „Комити" молчеа 21 минута, а потоа грмнаа во чест на убиениот Саздо!". Gol.mk (in Macedonian). 19 July 2018.
- ^ "Испоапсени „Комити" откако нападнале полицајци во Битола". Netpress (in Macedonian). 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Раскрвавено девојче, нападнати полицајци, уапсени 4 хулигани, Комити и Чкембари се истепаа на дербито Пелистер-Вардар". Plusinfo (in Macedonian). 11 December 2025.
- ^ "„Комити" направија убав гест, Вардар победи во хуманитарниот меч за Кочани". Mkd.mk (in Macedonian). 7 February 2026.