FFK: Kosovo participated in the UEFA Congress in Belgrade with state symbols

The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) has reacted to the latest news by confirming that Kosovo participated in the 49th UEFA Congress with all state symbols, with dignity and in full compliance with our status as an equal member of UEFA and FIFA.

Kosovo's appearance at the UEFA Congress held today (Thursday) in Belgrade, where it caused a great stir due to the state symbols, the first being the president of the FFK, Agim Ademi, who was seen yesterday evening (Wednesday) posing with the Kosovo flag in the "Sava Center" hall.

Later in the evening, several Serbian hooligans were seen outside the hall burning the Kosovo flag, and the Serbian Football Federation later reported that the presence of Kosovo symbols was an oversight and they have been removed.

Read too Serbian hooligans burn Kosovo flag in front of UEFA Congress hall

However, the FFK has denied this, issuing a response confirming that Kosovo, like every other member federation, was presented with its state symbols and with dignity.

The FFK also described the statements of the Football Federation of Serbia as unfounded, while thanking UEFA for the good treatment and continued support for the development of football in Kosovo.

FFK announcement

The Football Federation of Kosovo was part of 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, like every other member federation, Kosovo was presented with its state symbols, as it once again confirmed its commitment to the development of football and strengthening cooperation with international institutions.

The baseless statements of the Football Federation of Serbia, which aimed to present our participation as something outside the interest of football, have no basis and only prove the ongoing tendency of Serbia to interfere with politics in sports.

The FFK has always represented the interests of Kosovo football and will continue to work for the development and advancement of the game of football, 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 the flag of our state waved alongside those of other states, continues to be unacceptable for politics and a part of the public opinion 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 sports and state relations.

Regarding the claims about the removal of the Kosovo 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 action at the end of the meeting, when the FFK president was no longer in the hall, does not change the fact that Kosovo was and remains an equal part of this organization, as it is in the European and world football family.

Of course, as always, certain people pursue agendas against Kosovo and remove it from the table, even burning the flag of our state (as happened last night in Belgrade by fans of Serbian clubs), but Kosovo as a state is and remains an irreversible reality. The FFK will immediately submit a protest note to UEFA and other international institutions regarding these actions, which are against the values ​​that UEFA promotes.

However, we once again emphasize that Kosovo was presented as equal with all its symbols and everything went according to UEFA protocol until the final part of the works.

The FFK thanks UEFA for the good treatment and continued support for the development of football in Kosovo. As always, we will continue to work to strengthen our football and represent Kosovo with dignity in the international arena.

/Telegraph/