* Vojvodina stage protest over refereeing decisions
* Partizan were leading 2-1 when final ended
BELGRADE, May 11 (Reuters) - Vojvodina Novi Sad's players walked off the pitch in a farcical protest over controversial refereeing decisions on Wednesday, handing Partizan Belgrade their 12th Serbian Cup title.
Partizan were leading the final 2-1 when Vojvodina had an 80th-minute goal ruled out.
The disallowed effort came just after referee Slobodan Veselinovic had awarded Partizan a harsh-looking penalty which Zvonimir Vukic converted.
Led by insensed coach Zoran Milinkovic, the Vojvodina team walked off and sarcastically applauded Veselinovic and the Partizan side who tried to persuade them to carry on playing.
They also refused to attend the medal ceremony, leaving Partizan to celebrate in front of 10,000 of their fans who had packed the south tier of Red Star Belgrade's 55,000-seater stadium.
Vojvodina's fans, whose late arrival from northern Serbia delayed the kickoff by 30 minutes, also left the ground before Partizan captain Mladen Krstajic lifted the trophy.
"We have won deservedly because we let in only two goals throughout the competition and scored many more and what Vojvodina did at the end takes nothing away from our victory," Partizan coach Aleksandar Stanojevic told a news conference.
"Television replays will show the referee made all the right decisions and if anyone should complain it's us because the match started 30 minutes late through no fault of our own.
"We were graceful in defeat after losing both league fixtures to Vojvodina but we can't say the same for them, this is the first time a team has abandoned a cup final in Serbia," added Stanojevic.
"The way tonight's match ended is regrettable and we have mixed emotions about it because the celebrations in the dressing room were somewhat muted but we played no part in this scandalous finale."
Milinkovic failed to turn up for his news conference.
League leaders Partizan are on course to win their fifth domestic double, and a record fourth successive championship.
With four games left they are five points ahead of bitter city rivals Red Star and eight ahead of third-placed Vojvodina who have now lost all their six cup finals.
* Partizan were leading 2-1 when final ended
BELGRADE, May 11 (Reuters) - Vojvodina Novi Sad's players walked off the pitch in a farcical protest over controversial refereeing decisions on Wednesday, handing Partizan Belgrade their 12th Serbian Cup title.
Partizan were leading the final 2-1 when Vojvodina had an 80th-minute goal ruled out.
The disallowed effort came just after referee Slobodan Veselinovic had awarded Partizan a harsh-looking penalty which Zvonimir Vukic converted.
Led by insensed coach Zoran Milinkovic, the Vojvodina team walked off and sarcastically applauded Veselinovic and the Partizan side who tried to persuade them to carry on playing.
They also refused to attend the medal ceremony, leaving Partizan to celebrate in front of 10,000 of their fans who had packed the south tier of Red Star Belgrade's 55,000-seater stadium.
Vojvodina's fans, whose late arrival from northern Serbia delayed the kickoff by 30 minutes, also left the ground before Partizan captain Mladen Krstajic lifted the trophy.
"We have won deservedly because we let in only two goals throughout the competition and scored many more and what Vojvodina did at the end takes nothing away from our victory," Partizan coach Aleksandar Stanojevic told a news conference.
"Television replays will show the referee made all the right decisions and if anyone should complain it's us because the match started 30 minutes late through no fault of our own.
"We were graceful in defeat after losing both league fixtures to Vojvodina but we can't say the same for them, this is the first time a team has abandoned a cup final in Serbia," added Stanojevic.
"The way tonight's match ended is regrettable and we have mixed emotions about it because the celebrations in the dressing room were somewhat muted but we played no part in this scandalous finale."
Milinkovic failed to turn up for his news conference.
League leaders Partizan are on course to win their fifth domestic double, and a record fourth successive championship.
With four games left they are five points ahead of bitter city rivals Red Star and eight ahead of third-placed Vojvodina who have now lost all their six cup finals.
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