For the past 20 years the match had attracted tens of thousands of partisan fans, even as Kosovo remained in political and sporting limbo following its war of independence from what is now
Serbia between 1997 and 1998. Gjilan derby has added importance. In May, 2015,
Kosovo was recognised by
UEFA. In 1995, the last stage of the championship of the Kosovo Superleague 1994/95, the main players of the Drita were dissatisfied with the leaders of the club, respectively with the treatment they had, so they split from Drita and created a new club in the city of Gjilan, which was originally called Gjilan '95 Until 1999, when the
Kosovo War ended, this game was difficult to develop because the Serbian government did not allow Albanians to play at the stadiums. Fans accused each other of lying about the foundations of the clubs.
Intelektualët believe that
SC Gjilani was founded in 1995 only after they inherited the
FK Crvena Zvezda Gnjilane that was founded in 1945,
Crvena Zvezda Gnjilane is accused by
Intelektualët as a Serb nationalist club. While
Skifterat accuse that
FC Drita before had the name
KF Poleti which was founded by Serbs and after a few years after many Albanians were in the club, for this reason the club changed its name to
Drita. Both stories have been rejected by many officials from both clubs and citizen of the
city. == Supporters ==