The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) announced that it will not play the match with Spain as part of the World Cup qualifiers unless the anthems are played and the flag of Kosovo is not displayed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain noted that the national team of that country will play a match on its territory with Kosovo, but that "the rival will not have the same status as the other national teams".
Reacting to that news, FFK pointed out that the criteria of UEFA and FIFA are clear, that Spain knows this and that its institutions "cannot change the fact that Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state and since 2016 a member of the IOC, UEFA and FIFA".
"The Spanish attempt to minimize the statehood of Kosovo in the match on March 31 for the World Cup qualifiers 'Qatar 2022', referring to Kosovo as a 'territory', is futile and unfair. They are aware that on this day they will face the Kosovo national team, which will be presented like any other country. UEFA and FIFA criteria are crystal clear and Spain knows it, so whatever is said and written, it does not change these rules and will not change them in any way," the FFK statement said, and broadcast by RTK2.
It is emphasized that "Kosovo will not make concessions" and that it will play "according to the strict criteria and rules of UEFA, with the national anthem and flag", otherwise the match will not take place.
"The FFK expects the Spanish federation to behave in accordance with the rules of UEFA and FIFA and not to undertake actions that harm the relations between the federations and our two countries", emphasized the FKK.
On March 31, the Spanish national football team will meet the Kosovo national team in Seville in a World Cup qualification match.
As "Marka" reported, the name "Kosovo territory" will be on the official protocols, while the flag will not be placed next to the Spanish flag, but further away from it.
On the Spanish state television, which owns the TV rights, the commentators will not say the national team or the national team of Kosovo, but "the selection of the territory of Kosovo".
It is recalled that a similar case was recorded at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when the Argentine media were banned from writing and pronouncing the name - England's selection, when it played against Germany, due to the conflict between Argentina and Great Britain on the Falkland Islands.
Otherwise, two more countries whose countries do not recognize the status of Kosovo as an independent country will play with Kosovo in the World Cup qualifiers - Greece and Georgia.
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