Spain’s soccer match in opposition to Kosovo erupts into diplomatic row

Spain’s 2022 World Cup qualifier in opposition to Kosovo on Wednesday has turned from a soccer match right into a diplomatic row. Following Kosovo’s threats to boycott the match in Seville after the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) described their opponents as a “territory”, the Spanish physique have assured that the match shall be performed in accordance with FIFA and UEFA guidelines.
Kosovo, a former Serbian province of 1.8 million individuals, declared its independence in 2008. Most nations on the earth acknowledge Kosovo as an impartial nation, however Serbia’s political allies — China, Russia — and nations like Spain, Greece, Slovakia and Romania don’t.
Soon after the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) described Kosovo as a “territory” when it printed Spain’s opening World Cup qualifying fixtures, Marca reported that the Kosovo flag wouldn’t be displayed subsequent to the Spanish flag in the course of the match and that the Kosovo anthem can be offered as “music donated by the territory of Kosovo”.
In response, the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK), stated in an announcement that “Kosovo is an independent state” and threatened to not play the match if it was not allowed to make use of its nationwide anthem and flag.

🇶🇦🏆 #WCQ 2022 | Group B – Standings
Kosovo performs Spain in Wednesday #ESPKOS 🇪🇸🇽🇰 pic.twitter.com/2hvh1XTXiQ
— Dardanian Football (@DardanianFooty) March 28, 2021
“We were prepared not to go to Spain due to the political context of this decision,” FFK secretary basic Eroll Salihu instructed AFP on Tuesday.
In an announcement issued earlier, the Kosovo Football Federation, FFK, had known as 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 had stated.
Meanwhile, whereas the Spanish soccer federation has agreed to make use of the nationwide flag and anthem of Kosovo at Wednesday’s match, this doesn’t have any bearing on Spain’s political place.
“The staging of the match between the teams from these two federations does not under any circumstances change Spain’s position not to acknowledge Kosovo as a state,” Spanish diplomatic sources instructed AFP on Tuesday.
The Spanish authorities’s place is defined by fears of a knock-on impact recognition of Kosovo may have for separatists in Catalonia.

When the draw for World Cup {qualifications} was made in December 2020, Kosovo was initially positioned in Group A, however was displaced to Group B as Group A already contained Serbia.
UEFA guidelines stop two nations in political disputes being drawn in the identical qualifying group. In Group B, alongside Spain, Kosovo was drawn with Sweden, Greece and Georgia.