Spain World Cup Qualifier Against Kosovo Overshadowed By Diplomatic Row

Spain's 2023 World Cup qualifier towards Kosovo on Wednesday is greater than a easy recreation of soccer, with the assembly in Seville additionally on the centre of a diplomatic row. The controversy stems from the outline of Kosovo as a "territory" by the Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) when it printed Spain's opening World Cup qualifying fixtures in a bunch additionally containing Sweden, Greece and Georgia. The outline was not appreciated in Kosovo, the previous Serbian province of 1.8 million individuals which declared its independence in 2008.

In response, the Soccer Federation of Kosovo (FFK), mentioned 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.

"We were prepared not to go to Spain due to the political context of this decision," FFK secretary basic Eroll Salihu instructed AFP.

Kosovo have been granted full membership of UEFA and FIFA in 2016 and first appeared in aggressive motion in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

'Independence is irreversible'

Most western powers recognise Kosovo's statehood however Serbia and its main worldwide allies China and Russia don't.

Nor does Spain, or Greece, one other of their opponents on the sector within the marketing campaign to qualify for Qatar 2023.

Spain and Greece, together with Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus, are the 5 member states of the European Union who have been final week urged to recognise Kosovo by the European Parliament.

"Kosovo's independence is irreversible. Recognition by these remaining EU member states... would be beneficial to the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, would enhance and consolidate the stability of the region," members of the European Parliament mentioned.

However Madrid has already said the staging of Wednesday's recreation at Seville's La Cartuja stadium is not going to persuade it to alter its 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.

The Spanish authorities's place is defined by fears of a knock-on impact recognition of Kosovo might have for separatists in Catalonia.

"Spain, which still has problems when it comes to national unity, wants to avoid being threatened by a process of 'Balkanisation'," the historian Jose Alvarez Junco defined to on-line every day El Confidencial.

'Sporting tensions'

Spain's place relating to Kosovo has created stress within the sporting theatre earlier than.

In 2019 it determined towards internet hosting matches within the elite spherical of qualifying for the European Below-17 Championship towards Greece, Kosovo and Ukraine.

The video games have been finally performed in Nyon, Switzerland, the place UEFA has its headquarters.

Earlier than that, in November 2018, Kosovar contributors within the karate world championships in Madrid took half below the flag of the Worldwide Karate Federation, to the irritation of the Worldwide Olympic Committee.

In the meantime Spain are stored aside in World Cup and European Championship qualifiers from Gibraltar, the tiny British territory on Spain's southern tip which is traditionally claimed by Madrid.

On Wednesday Spain will "adjust to the rules put in place by FIFA and UEFA for these matches", diplomatic sources and sources from the Spanish Federation instructed AFP.

"We have received guarantees from UEFA and FIFA that the protocol (covering international matches) will be respected," mentioned Salihu, that means Kosovo will have the ability to play its anthem and fly its flag at La Cartuja.

Promoted

That ought to keep away from any controversy come the sport itself, as Kosovo -- ranked 117th on this planet by FIFA -- look to trigger a significant shock towards the 2010 world champions.

"Spain are one of the best teams in the world but we have a young team that fears nobody," added Salihu.