FIFA: Kosovo to play friendlies without national symbols

ZURICH - The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has confirmed that its Emergency Committee has allowed Kosovo to play friendly matches, but without displaying flags or playing anthems.

The decision on the issue was taken at last Friday's meeting in Zurich, attended by the president of the Football Association of Serbia Tomislav Karadzic, the president of Kosovo's football federation Fadil Vokrri and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, said a statement published on the FIFA website.

The three sides agreed that FIFA member associations may play friendly matches with Kosovo teams, but Kosovo clubs and representative teams may not display national symbols.

"However, they are allowed to wear or display kit or equipment bearing the name 'Kosovo' as well as the symbol of a star of the size of the letter 'o' in the name 'Kosovo'," the statement said.

Kosovo clubs and representative teams may not play official or qualification matches because Kosovo's football federation is not a FIFA member.

Also, Kosovo clubs and representative teams may not play matches against clubs and representative teams of former Yugoslav countries until further notice.

International friendly matches involving Kosovo clubs and representative teams "may be played on the territory of Kosovo provided that FIFA is informed in writing at least 21 days before each match. FIFA will in turn inform the Football Association of Serbia," the statement said.

• In case any provision of the agreement is breached, the agreement will cease to be valid.

“The decision taken by the FIFA Emergency Committee represents a major boost for football development in Kosovo and it once again confirms the extraordinary power of our sport to bring people together,” Blatter said commenting on the agreement.
 tanjug.rs
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