Reaction of the city police: What Dornbirn says about the "Serbia to Tokyo" graffiti

While some see the lettering as a harmless form of expression, others question it critically. Is it simply graffiti by Red Star Belgrade fans or is there a nationalist reference?

As the Vorarlberg Police Department confirmed to VOL.AT, the graffiti was reported to the Dornbirn security guard. Hans-Peter Schwendinger, commander of the Dornbirn city police, explained to VOL.AT that such incidents can be considered as property damage. "If it causes a lot of work: Either something gets broken or it causes work to be done to remove it. Then someone has to bear the costs and that is the person responsible," he explains. The police are therefore trying to find out who put up the graffiti. If the person responsible is found, they can also be reported to the public prosecutor's office and brought to court.

Particularly in the case of the message "Serbia to Tokyo", the intention behind it must be examined on a case-by-case basis. If a political or provocative intention is confirmed, this could have consequences for the perpetrators. "Accordingly, this must be examined on a case-by-case basis," explains the commander of the Dornbirn city police. "First of all, it is offensive. It must be questioned."

A web search by VOL.AT shows that "Serbia to Tokyo" is a slogan that is widespread in the Serbian football fan scene, especially among supporters of Red Star Belgrade. The expression appears in fan graffiti, choreographies and chants. The slogan originally arose in the Red Star Belgrade ultra scene as an expression of club pride and global fan presence. In some contexts, however, it is also associated with Serbian nationalism. The slogan is particularly closely linked to the ultra group "Delije", which coined it in reference to Red Star Belgrade's World Cup victory in Tokyo in 1991.

• The slogan appears both in the Serbian football fan scene and occasionally in political graffiti. According to a report by the independent magazine Republika, the slogan was documented in Niš in an environment of nationalist slogans. The publication, which was known for its critical stance towards Serbian nationalism, reported on various political messages in public spaces. However, this does not mean that every use of the slogan has a political intention. In the Red Star Belgrade ultra scene, "Serbia to Tokyo" is mainly used as an expression of club pride and global fan presence. While some see the slogan as purely football-related, others interpret it as a nationalist message. The meaning depends greatly on the respective context.

Schwendinger points out to VOL.AT that there are certainly legal areas for graffiti in Dornbirn, but: "It is not allowed in a place like this." The affected walls on the Dornbirner Ach belong to the city. The city police commander emphasizes that removing such graffiti is often not only costly, but also technically demanding. "It is always a lot of work. It is a bit more difficult, especially in places where it is difficult to get to."

A request from VOL.AT to the city of Dornbirn has so far remained unanswered.