By Andrew Warshaw
October 5 – The head of Kosovan football has backtracked over remarks he made criticising UEFA for ignoring his country’s credentials while allowing Gibraltar partial membership status.
Earlier this week Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) President Fadil Vokrri (pictured top) issued a sharp rebuke to UEFA denouncing what he described as “double standards” shown towards his country compared to the situation in Gibraltar.
He also criticised FIFA for once again delaying a decision, this time until December, of whether to allow Kosovo to play international matches.
His comments followed UEFA reluctantly approving provisional membership for tiny Gibraltar after having its hand forced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ruled that Gibraltar’s case had to be considered since its request was made before UEFA changed its statutes preventing countries from joining if they were not members of the United Nations.
Both UEFA and FIFA, which has been considering Kosovo’s case for playing international matches, are likely to have been irritated by Vokrri’s initial comments but while he makes no apology for criticising FIFA he has now attempted to redress the balance as far as Europe’s governing body is concerned.
“I want to clarify a thing, UEFA has not broken its statutes to make Gibraltar a provisional member,” Vokrri said.
“When this state made the request to join UEFA, its statutes were different.
“The statutes to not admit countries that are not members of the United Nations did not apply at that time.
“I protested about the decision on FIFA to postpone the modalities for Kosovo’s friendly matches, and not for the right of Gibraltar to join UEFA”.
“I hope that Kosovo can play friendly matches after the [FIFA] meeting on December.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734831071labto1734831071ofdlr1734831071owedi1734831071sni@w1734831071ahsra1734831071w.wer1734831071dna1734831071