No arrests were made in connection with disturbances in Buġibba three weeks ago by a group of Serbian football fans, the police confirmed.

The incidents occurred on July 5, when Red Star Belgrade fans who were in Malta for the Europa League tie against Floriana FC hurled abuse at passers-by and, in some cases, vandalised private property with graffiti.

At one point, police officers were seen following the Serbs in a patrol vehicle, but it could not be determined whether further action had been taken.

Games between the two clubs have frequently been marred by hooliganism and violence

Though questions sent by the Times of Malta were not immediately answered, a few days ago the police informed this newspaper that no arrests had been made.

Sources said that the Buġibba incidents followed clashes bet-ween the Red Star supporters and their Serbian compatriots supporting Red Star’s eternal rivals, Partizan Belgrade.

Games between the two clubs have frequently been marred by hooliganism and violence.

Irate Buġibba residents vented their frustration on Facebook, saying that, despite filing various complaints with the police, the response had been weak. One uploaded a number of photos showing the damage and what looked like a group of Serbs causing disturbances in Triq iċ-Ċern, close to the former Buġibba Holiday Complex.

The residents noted that the spate of incidents involving foreign gangs had been going on for months, and notwithstanding repeated calls to beef up the police presence, the situation had not improved.

The issue has also been flagged by St Paul’s Bay mayor Graziella Galea, who called for a national action plan for the integration of migrants into Maltese communities.

Ms Galea also asked for more officers and for the deployment of tourism police, but the second request was refused.