Kosovo National Team Takes Unprecedented Stand Against Non-Recognition
In a bold move that has shocked the football world, the Kosovo national team players walked off the field during their match against Romania on Friday, with the score tied at 0-0. The decision regarding the final outcome of the match is now in the hands of UEFA.
Muriqi and his team want to play in Europe only against those they choose. Photo from Facebook
Following the incidents at the National Arena, the Kosovars have announced a decision that is unprecedented in football: they will no longer participate in any matches against teams from countries that do not recognize Kosovo’s statehood.
The announcement was made by Bajram Shala, the team manager of the Kosovo national team. “This is a final decision, we will not participate in any match where Kosovo is not respected as a state and an equal member of UEFA,” he stated, as reported by Kosova Sot. Ironically, today Amir Rrahmani’s national team is playing in the Nations League against Cyprus, one of the European Union nations that does not recognize Kosovo as a state.
15 Countries in Europe Do Not Recognize Kosovo
Among the countries in the European Union, five have not recognized the unilateral declaration of independence by the region predominantly inhabited by Albanians: Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece. From those outside the EU and Asian nations participating in European competitions, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and of course, Serbia, consider Kosovo as a province of the neighboring country.