UEFA chief reacts to FIFA's Kosovo controversy

UEFA President Michel Platini protested on Wednesday the decision of FIFA to allow the Kosovo team to play friendly matches. This is a purely political matter and the decision is against the UEFA statutes, Platini was quoted as saying. UEFA chief reacts to FIFA's Kosovo controversy The FIFA Executive Committee decided on Tuesday to allow Kosovo to play friendly games at the recommendation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, despite opposition voiced by all eight members from UEFA. Blatter will meet with Platini and the heads of the Football Alliance of Serbia (FSS) on Wednesday. The FIFA decision to allow for friendly games to take place came despite the fact that Kosovo is not a member of the UN - a requirement for full membership in the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Ethnic Albanians in the province unilaterally declared independence more than four years ago, but Serbia rejected the proclamation as illegal. On Tuesday, the Football Alliance of Serbia lodged a strong protest with FIFA, and said its representatives would travel to Budapest for meetings with Platini and Blatter over the issue on Wednesday. The FSS protested "over the decision by FIFA's executive committee to allow the world soccer governing body's members to play friendly matches with the so-called national team of the so-called Republic of Kosovo". “The decision made behind closed door without any consultations with either UEFA or the Serbian Football Association blatantly contravenes the FIFA statutes. Therefore, we have demanded an urgent meeting with Platini and Blatter. We will insist on reconsideration and reverse of this unjustified decision which could have far-reaching consequences across the region," the FSS statement reads. A representative of the football association in Pristina has in the meantime told B92 that the FIFA decision was "final", and that the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) "could not change it". Michel Platini (file) B92 Tanjug

UEFA chief reacts to FIFA's Kosovo controversy

The FIFA Executive Committee decided on Tuesday to allow Kosovo to play friendly games at the recommendation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, despite opposition voiced by all eight members from UEFA.

Blatter will meet with Platini and the heads of the Football Alliance of Serbia (FSS) on Wednesday.

The FIFA decision to allow for friendly games to take place came despite the fact that Kosovo is not a member of the UN - a requirement for full membership in the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

Ethnic Albanians in the province unilaterally declared independence more than four years ago, but Serbia rejected the proclamation as illegal.

On Tuesday, the Football Alliance of Serbia lodged a strong protest with FIFA, and said its representatives would travel to Budapest for meetings with Platini and Blatter over the issue on Wednesday.

The FSS protested "over the decision by FIFA's executive committee to allow the world soccer governing body's members to play friendly matches with the so-called national team of the so-called Republic of Kosovo".

“The decision made behind closed door without any consultations with either UEFA or the Serbian Football Association blatantly contravenes the FIFA statutes. Therefore, we have demanded an urgent meeting with Platini and Blatter. We will insist on reconsideration and reverse of this unjustified decision which could have far-reaching consequences across the region," the FSS statement reads.

A representative of the football association in Priština has in the meantime told B92 that the FIFA decision was "final", and that the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) "could not change it".