28-year-old French soccer fan attacked and beaten in Belgrade before match dies in hospital

French soccer fan attacked in Belgrade dies

BELGRADE, Serbia — A 28-year-old French soccer fan, brutally attacked in Belgrade by Serbian hooligans, died Tuesday in a hospital.

Brice Taton died of brain and other injuries he suffered during the Sept. 17 attack ahead of the Europa League match between Partizan Belgrade and Toulouse, the Belgrade Clinical Center said in a statement.

The attack with iron bars in a downtown pub left two other French nationals and a Serb slightly injured.

Ten people have been arrested and will be charged with first-degree murder, which carries a 40-year prison sentence, state prosecutor Slobodan Radovanovic said Tuesday.

French sports minister Rama Yade said Taton’s death “shouldn’t stay unpunished.”

“This tragic event plunges European football in mourning,” Yade said in a statement. “I’m calling for a reaction of the highest severity against the people responsible of this murder and I’m giving my support to Serbian authorities to make sure that this crime won’t stay unpunished.”

Yade added that she will meet UEFA president Michel Platini in order to “evaluate the necessary means to protect football from this cancer that is eating it away.”

In Serbia, Taton’s death drew widespread condemnation and calls for tough action against hooligans and other far right groups, which are believed to be behind a series of recent attacks on foreigners.

President Boris Tadic said “Serbia will react with greatest possible seriousness, in a strict manner.”

Belgrade’s mayor proclaimed a day of mourning in the capital Wednesday, and marches against the surging violence on Belgrade streets were announced for this week.

Serbia’s prosecutor, police chief and justice minister promised tough action, including changes to existing laws.

Last week, Radovanovic requested a ban of two ultranationalist groups that have attacked foreigners and threatened a gay parade in Belgrade, which was canceled this month because of the threats.