The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) has responded to the recent reports regarding the 49th UEFA Congress, confirming that Kosovo participated in the event with all state symbols, dignity, and in full compliance with its status as an equal member of UEFA and FIFA.
Kosovo’s presentation at the UEFA Congress, held today (Thursday) in Belgrade, caused a stir due to the use of state symbols. The President of FFK, Agim Ademi, was seen the previous evening (Wednesday) posing with the flag of Kosovo in the “Sava Center” hall.
Later in the evening, some Serbian hooligans were seen outside the hall burning the Kosovo flag, while the Serbian Football Federation reported that the presence of Kosovo’s symbols was a “concession” and that they were removed.
However, FFK has denied these claims and emphasized that Kosovo, like any other member federation, was presented with its state symbols and with dignity.
FFK also called the statements from the Serbian Football Federation unfounded, thanking UEFA for its good treatment and continued support for the development of football in Kosovo.
Full statement:
The Football Federation of Kosovo participated in the 49th UEFA Congress held in Belgrade, where our delegation, led by President Agim Ademi and Acting Secretary General Markus Weidner, represented Kosovo with dignity and in full accordance with our status as an equal member of UEFA and FIFA.
At this important European football event, just like every other member federation, Kosovo was presented with its state symbols, while reaffirming its commitment to the development of football and strengthening cooperation with international institutions.
The unfounded statements from the Serbian Football Federation, which aimed to present our participation as something outside the interest of football, have no basis and only demonstrate the ongoing tendency of Serbia to politicize sport.
FFK has always represented the interests of Kosovo’s football and will continue to work for the development and advancement of the sport, maintaining excellent relations with international institutions.
We understand that the presence of the Kosovo delegation in the Serbian capital, as well as the fact that our state flag waved alongside those of other countries, continues to be unacceptable to the politics and some parts of the public in Serbia. However, the state of Kosovo is an irreversible reality, and the sooner they accept this, the sooner they will contribute to the normalization of both sports and state relations.
Regarding claims about the removal of Kosovo’s state flag during the Congress proceedings, we emphasize that Kosovo was officially represented with its state symbols, just like any other UEFA member. Any possible actions at the end of the meeting, when the President of FFK was no longer in the hall, do not change the fact that Kosovo was and remains an equal part of this organization, as it is in the European and global football family.
Certainly, as always, certain individuals follow anti-Kosovo agendas and remove from the table, or even burn, our state flag (as happened last night in Belgrade by Serbian club fans), but Kosovo as a state is and remains an irreversible reality. FFK will immediately submit a protest note to UEFA and other international institutions regarding these actions, which go against the values promoted by UEFA.
Nevertheless, we once again emphasize that Kosovo was presented as an equal with all its symbols, and everything proceeded according to UEFA protocol until the final stage of the proceedings.
FFK thanks UEFA for its good treatment and ongoing support for the development of football in Kosovo. As always, we will continue working to strengthen our football and to represent Kosovo with dignity on the international stage.
