Bulatovic's death confirmed

Serbia and Montenegro Football Association (FSSCG) general secretary Branko Bulatovic has died after being shot yesterday.

Death confirmed
The 52-year-old was shot in the head from the back by an unknown gunman, who escaped from the scene. He was rushed to the Belgrade medical centre where he underwent surgery to remove a bullet but his death was confirmed late last night.

'Severe blow'
FSSCG president Dragan Stojkovic said on Saturday: "I am absolutely shocked and enraged by this heinous crime. We have lost a dear friend and this is a severe blow to our soccer and our society. It is a most devastating blow to his family more than anything else and all our thoughts are with them at this moment."

Internationals go ahead
Stojkovic added that although this weekend's domestic games had been postponed as a mark of respect, the coming week's international fixtures involving Serbia and Montenegro will go ahead as planned, namely senior and Under-21 friendlies against Norway and a B international against Switzerland.

'Deeply saddened'
UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson, speaking on behalf of European football's governing body before the death was confirmed, said: "We were deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the tragic events that happened in Belgrade."

'Sympathy and encouragement'
Mr Olsson added: "On behalf of the UEFA Executive Committee, the UEFA President Lennart Johansson, as well as on behalf of the entire European football community we should like to extend to your association our words of sympathy and encouragement at this sad time. We condemn any act of unnecessary violence and our thoughts are with the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro."

Petkovic reaction
Ilija Petkovic, the Serbia and Montenegro coach, who attended to the wounded Bulatovic, said: "It was Serbo-Montenegrin football which was shot at today. It is as if the shots were aimed at every one of us. I cannot find the words - my mind functions only in terms of sports and football and what happened today has nothing to do with that."

Since 1991
Bulatovic became general secretary of the former Yugoslavian Football Association (FSJ) in 1991, after a four-year spell performing the role in an interim capacity. A qualified lawyer, he joined the association in 1987. Prior to that he had served as a director of FK Buducnost in his hometown of Podgorica.