By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 24 – Serbian football authorities have angrily denounced FIFA’s decision to allow Kosovo to play international friendlies against established countries, warning the move was against the rules and would have “harmful” effects on the region.
FIFA, which holds its annual Congress here on Friday (May 26), opened the door to Kosovo earlier this week by saying the time had come – even though UEFA voted against – for the Balkan province to be given the opportunity to develop the game even though it is not a member nation.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and in a strongly worded political reaction to FIFA’s move, the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) said the decision would have “far reaching consequences”.
“We strongly protest the decision by FIFA’s Executive Committee to allow the world soccer governing body’s members to play friendly matches with the so-called national team of the so-called Republic of Kosovo,” the FSS said.
“The decision made behind closed doors in Budapest without any consultations with either UEFA or the Serbian Football Association blatantly contravenes the FIFA Statutes.”
Other countries that have broken away since the breakup of Yugoslavia – Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia – all have their own national teams.
But the FSS statement continued: “We will ask for an urgent meeting with FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini to demand a reverse of this unjustified decision which could have far-reaching consequences across the region.”
In reply, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke invited the FSS to a meeting at their headquarters in Zurich later this month to discuss the situation.
A letter sent by Valcke to FSS President Tomislav Karadžić (pictured top and above, left with Platini) said permission had been given to Kosovo “following repeated written requests…over the last two years”.
Valcke said the decision was perfectly legal since it conformed to article 79 of the FIFA Statutes, which foresees the possibility that FIFA members may play against non-members – such as the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) – provided FIFA gives its authorisation.
Valcke also made it clear that giving the partial green light to Kosovo, which is not recognised by the United Nations, “does not constitute a step towards FIFA membership” and was simply to allow the game to develop.
“We would like to invite you to a meeting at the home of FIFA in Zurich on 31 May together with representative of the UEFA,” Valcke’s letter said.
“In this meeting we will be able to discuss the implications of the decision and the modalities of its implementation.”
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