Nemanja Matic files criminal complaint

Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has reportedly filed a criminal complaint.

The 37-year-old faced threats in 2020, when mob-style language and threats to use the mafia against Matic were leaked.

According to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) website, former President of the Serbian Football Association Slavisa Kokeza used an encrypted app, Sky ECC, to discuss hiring mafia figures to assault a group of high-profile Serbia players. The targets included Nemanja Matic, Danko Lazovic, and Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic, who had all publicly criticised the president’s leadership.

The website reports that Matic confirmed to OCCRP’s Serbian partner KRIK that he had filed a complaint for “endangering safety” at a police station in Ub, in his homeland. Despite this admission, Nemanja Matic declined to comment further on the case.

“Right now I realistically need the most help to eliminate Vidic, Lazovic, and Matic,” the former President reportedly told one interlocutor in 2020.

Slavisa Kokeza believed physical threats would be effective, according to OCCRP, for the players playing abroad. While noting that Matic and Vidic didn’t live in Serbia at the time, Kokeza wrote that “they aren’t indifferent about their families either.”

It comes as quite the scandal for football in Serbia, and raises questions over the nation’s Football Association, as well as former President Slavisa Kokeza in particular.

Nemanja Matic played 189 times for Manchester United between 2017 and 2022, scoring four times in his five-year stint at Old Trafford.

The Serbian has had a fair amount of experience throughout his career, and now plays in Italy for Serie A club Sassuolo, playing 34 times for the side in 2025/26 despite his age.

The alleged threats towards Matic, Danko Lazovic and Manchester United icon Nemanja Vidic need dealing with, and the criminal complaint filed will hopefully ensure justice can be served.