Shkendija Aracinovo faces FFM disciplinary action after match scandal

A major controversy has erupted in the Macedonian First Football League following a match between Shkendija Aracinovo and Struga Trim Lum, which ended in a 0-2 victory for Struga.

The conflict began in the 24th minute when a VAR intervention overturned the referee's initial decision, awarding a penalty and a direct red card to a Shkendija defender for preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The Football Federation of Macedonia (FFM) has defended the use of VAR, stating the protocol was correctly followed.

Post-match tensions escalated when the FFM and the Referees' Organization accused representatives of Shkendija Aracinovo and unauthorized individuals of entering the referees' dressing room to direct vulgar insults and threats at officials. The FFM announced it will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the club, noting this is the second such incident involving them.

Simultaneously, Shkendija Aracinovo has accused head referee Vlatko Ilioski of verbal abuse. The club claims that in the 88th minute, Ilioski called captain Besir Demiri an “uneducated monkey,” an insult the club suggests carries racist connotations. While Ilioski has since personally apologized to Demiri—a gesture the club acknowledged as a positive human step—Shkendija Aracinovo is still demanding official disciplinary action and the release of the match audio to ensure institutional accountability.