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Serbian President Boris Tadic pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating anti-hooligan laws by opening a bottle of champagne to toast Serbia's World Cup qualification win, Beta news agency reported.
Tadic and others uncorked the champagne in a VIP lounge at Red the Star Belgrade stadium after Serbia's October 10 victory over Romania which qualified them for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
"I did not know that consumption of alcohol, even if only for a toast, has been forbidden so I fully take responsibility for the violation" of the law, Tadic told a court in Belgrade.
"I take over responsibility and believe that, as every citizen, I should pay a fine or serve a sentence, whatever is the verdict," Tadic reporters after the hearing
A number of other high-ranking officials charged along with the president also appeared before the court, according to the report.
The court could sentence Tadic and the officials to a fine of between 300 to 500 euros (448 to 748 dollars) or even up to 60 days in jail.
On October 16, police filed charges against Tadic, Serbia's Football Association chief Tomislav Karadzic, Sports Minister Snezana Markovic-Samardzic and other officials for "violating the law preventing violence and indecent behaviour at sports matches."
The so-called anti-hooligan law, aimed at suppressing violence at sports events, prohibits the sale or consumption of alcohol in stadiums and arenas during and 90 minutes after a match.
In the past months, Serbia has seen a surge in extremist violence, notably by ultranationalist extremist groups and football hooligans.
