The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) has sent an official protest note to the European Football Association (UEFA) after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) referred to Kosovo as “the territory of Kosovo” in its official communications ahead of today’s qualifying match for the upcoming U-21 European Championship. In a letter addressed to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and the head of the Spanish Federation, Rafael Louzan, the FFK described this action as unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental principles of European football.
“Such an approach denies the sovereignty of Kosovo, which is an independent state and represented by the Football Federation of Kosovo, an equal and full member of UEFA, as is the RFEF itself,” the letter sent by FFK President Agim Ademi states.
The FFK stressed that this is not the first time it has encountered such an approach from the Spanish Federation. “We consider this completely unacceptable. We demand from UEFA a clear and immediate reaction to this issue, as well as a public correction and official admission by the Spanish Football Federation, acknowledging that their actions were inappropriate and contrary to the fundamental principles of UEFA,” the letter states.
The FFK further added that it hopes to always be treated as an equal member of UEFA, not only by the European institution, but also by all its member national federations.
The match between Kosovo U-21 and Spain U-21 will take place in the afternoon at the “Fadil Vokrri” stadium in Pristina, as part of Group A of the 2027 European Championship qualifiers, which will be co-hosted by Albania and Serbia. In addition to Kosovo and Spain, this group also includes Finland, Romania, Cyprus and San Marino. Kosovo started the qualifying campaign on September 5 with a draw against Romania.
This is not the first time that Kosovo has faced such non-recognition from Spain. Even in 2021, during the qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, the Spanish Federation, in its communications for the match against Kosovo, referred to the independent state as the "territory of Kosovo."
