Spanish Football Chiefs Outrage Kosovo by Calling it a 'Territory'

The Kosovo Football Federation has expressed fury following reports that when Spain and Kosovo face each other at a World Cup qualifier in Seville on March 31, the Kosovo flag will not be displayed – and the country will be represented as a 'territory'.

Kosovo national football team at a training session at “Fadil Vokrri” stadium in Pristina, November 16, 2019. Photo: BIRN/Atdhe Mulla

A World Cup qualifying match between Spain and Kosovo scheduled for March 31 has been put in question after the Spanish Football Federation in a tweet described Kosovo as the “territory of Kosovo” rather than an independent state.

Spain is one of five European Union countries that have not recognised the former province of Serbia which unilaterally declared independence in 2008.

The post said that Spanish football coach Luis Enrique on March 15 will make public the list of national team members for three international qualification matches for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Spain will play Greece, Georgia and Kosovo in its March calendar, but the post referred to the latter only as a territory.

Moments after the Football Federation released this post, Spain’s sports daily Marca reported that the Spanish Football Federation had been working for months with the Spanish Foreign Ministry on the modalities of the match in Seville against Kosovo.

Marca reported that, according to the protocol approved, there will be no reference to Kosovo as a sovereign nation but only as a “territory”.

The same rule will affect the flag, which may not be displayed next to the Spanish flag like that of a sovereign country. The Kosovo anthem, meanwhile, will be presented “music donated by the territory of Kosovo”.

Kosovo became member of world and European football governing bodies in 2016. Since declaring independence it has been recognised by more than 110 countries. But, besides Serbia, Russia, China and some other countries, five EU states – Spain, Slovakia, Romania, Cyprus and Greece – also do not recognise it.

Hmmm 🙂 Greetings from the Republic of Kosovo 🇽🇰 https://t.co/REsdXUzmZz

— Vlora Çitaku 😷 (@vloracitaku) March 9, 2021

This is not the first time Kosovo athletes have faced problems displaying their national symbols in Spain. In November 2018, Kosovo karate national team was banned from flying the national flag at the World Karate Championship held in the country.

In 2016, the Ukraine national team refused to play a European Cup qualifying match against Kosovo on its soil so the venue was moved to Krakow in Poland.

When the draw for World Cup qualifications was made in December 2020, Kosovo was initially placed in Group A, but was displaced to Group B as Group A already contained Serbia.

UEFA rules prevent two countries in political disputes being drawn in the same qualifying group. In Group B, alongside Spain, Kosovo was drawn with Sweden, Greece and Georgia.

Kosovo will start its qualifying journey with a match against Sweden on March 28 in its capital, Pristina, before travelling to Seville in southern Spain on March 31.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Kosovo Football Federation, FFK, called Spain’s reference to Kosovo as “territory” a “provocation” and vowed to not make “any concession”.

“We will play only according to strict UEFA criteria, with the flag and anthem. Otherwise, the match will not be played,” the FFK said.

NOP Espana, Kosovo is thankful to Spain that sponsored Columbus to Discover America ;). @Kosovo @football #bfm #migjeni @spain @fifa @USA #ChristopherColumbus https://t.co/GZo5Vx0MAu

— Bashkim Fazliu bfm (@bfmigjeni) March 9, 2021

“We have contacted Spanish Federation and are waiting for their quick reaction. If they don’t react, we will be forced to seek protection from UEFA because we are an equal member and Spain is obliged to treat us such, the FFK said, adding that “they … will face the Kosovo national team which will be presented like any other nation”.

“The UEFA and FIFA criteria are crystal clear and Spain knows this, so everything being said and written does not change these rules,” the FFK added.

Many Kosovars also took to social media to express their discontent over Spain’s plans for the match. Former ambassador to United States Vlora Citaku reacted to the post by writing, “Hmmmm:) greetings from the Republic of Kosovo”.

Another Twitter user dug deep in history to thank Spain for sponsoring the medieval navigator Christopher Columbus “to discover America” – one of Kosovo’s key allies on the international scene.