Leaked encrypted communications reportedly linked to former Serbian football official Slaviša Kokeza suggest that he discussed using intimidation tactics against former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidić after the ex-player publicly criticized the Serbian Football Association in 2020.

The controversy dates back to November 2020, when Serbia failed to qualify for the European Championship. Following the failure, Vidić published an open letter condemning the state of Serbian football governance. In his statement, he accused the national football structure of corruption, claiming that individuals within the system were benefiting financially while the sport itself suffered. His comments quickly gained attention in Serbia and were supported by several former national team players.

Shortly after Vidić’s criticism became public, investigators later reviewing encrypted chat data allege that senior football officials reacted with concern and hostility. According to reports based on intercepted messages from the now-defunct encrypted platform Sky ECC, a chat account believed to be used by Slaviša Kokeza, then-president of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), discussed ways to silence or pressure Vidić.

The messages were obtained and analyzed by investigative journalists working with international crime reporting organizations. Law enforcement agencies previously accessed the data after European authorities infiltrated the encrypted messaging service in 2021, which had been widely used by criminal networks.

The content of the conversations suggests that Kokeza feared Vidić could become a political or administrative rival within Serbian football. In response, he allegedly communicated with individuals connected to football supporter groups and people with alleged criminal ties, discussing strategies to intimidate the former defender and discourage him from becoming involved in football governance.

While the identities of all participants in the conversations have not been fully confirmed, investigators believe that some of the contacts were linked to organized supporter groups of major Serbian clubs, as well as individuals associated with criminal figures operating in the region.

The messages reportedly describe escalating levels of proposed intimidation. In one exchange, the account attributed to Kokeza is said to have suggested that Vidić should be warned to stay away from football administration, with threats implying severe consequences if he continued his criticism or pursued a leadership role within the FSS.

In another portion of the communication, references were allegedly made to extending pressure beyond Vidić himself, including threats aimed at individuals close to him. The tone of the messages, according to investigators, indicated a desire to create fear and force silence among those supporting reform within Serbian football.

Although the conversations include references to possible actions, there is no verified evidence that any physical attacks were actually carried out. However, the messages suggest that planning discussions reached an advanced stage, with specific ideas about how intimidation could be executed.

One contact reportedly informed Kokeza that individuals had located people associated with Vidić while he was living abroad in Milan at the time. That same contact claimed that surveillance measures, including tracking a vehicle, had been arranged. These claims, while contained in the chat logs, have not been independently verified.

At one point, the communication includes suggestions about funding operations intended to frighten the former player. The stated objective, according to the messages, was to pressure Vidić into withdrawing from public criticism and abandoning any ambition to lead the football association.

Subsequent messages also reveal coordination efforts and timing considerations. On one occasion, it is alleged that instructions were given to delay any planned actions to avoid drawing simultaneous media attention. This suggests an awareness of public scrutiny and an attempt to control the visibility of any potential intimidation campaign.

Later exchanges indicate that the operation was temporarily paused, and shortly afterward, Kokeza stepped down from his position as head of the Serbian Football Association in early 2021. The reasons for his resignation were not directly linked in official statements to the allegations raised in the leaked communications.

When journalists presented the content of the messages to Nemanja Vidić, he stated that he had no prior knowledge of any alleged plan to intimidate him and had never been warned by authorities in Serbia. He described the revelations as deeply troubling and criticized institutional systems that, in his view, failed to protect individuals speaking out against corruption.

Vidić also emphasized the broader implications of the situation, stating that responsibility lies with state institutions such as law enforcement and the justice system, as well as those responsible for appointing individuals to powerful positions within sport.

The Serbian Football Association and representatives associated with Kokeza did not respond to requests for comment. Prosecutors in Serbia have stated that Kokeza has not been formally investigated in relation to these specific allegations, and no public charges have been filed based on the leaked material.

The case is connected to a broader investigative project examining encrypted communications used by criminal networks. The Sky ECC messaging system, which was widely used by organized crime groups, was compromised by European law enforcement in 2021, resulting in access to millions of messages. These communications have since been used in multiple international investigations into criminal activity and corruption.

Journalistic analysis of these archives has revealed extensive intersections between sport, politics, and organized crime in several countries, including Serbia. The Balkan region in particular has a long and complex history in which football institutions, political influence, and criminal networks have at times overlapped.

Before becoming president of the Serbian Football Association in 2016, Kokeza was widely reported in Serbian media to have political connections and was considered close to senior figures within the country’s ruling establishment. His tenure at the FSS coincided with growing public debate about transparency and governance in Serbian football.

The situation escalated after Vidić’s public letter, which criticized what he described as a deeply flawed system within the national federation. He argued that structural problems and poor governance had damaged the sport’s reputation and competitive success. His remarks gained significant attention and were supported by other well-known Serbian players, including Nemanja Matić and Danko Lazović.

According to the leaked chats, these public endorsements intensified frustration among some officials within the federation. One account allegedly linked to Kokeza described attempts to suppress further criticism and discourage additional players from speaking out.

The conversations also referenced other former players and suggested coordinated pressure on individuals close to Vidić. However, there is no confirmed evidence that those individuals were ever contacted or that any direct action was taken against them.

Some messages also mention the possibility of involving individuals with criminal backgrounds or connections to football supporter groups known for aggressive behavior. These references have raised further concerns about the extent to which informal networks may have been considered for use in influencing football politics.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, key questions remain unanswered. Authorities have not publicly confirmed any criminal investigation into the content of the leaked messages, and the full context of the conversations has not been independently verified in court.

The case continues to attract attention because it highlights the intersection of sport, power, and influence in Serbia, and raises broader concerns about how dissent within major sporting institutions may be handled.

For now, the allegations remain part of an ongoing journalistic investigation based on leaked encrypted communications, with no formal legal conclusions drawn against those implicated.