UEFA, FIFA, FSS: Kosovo won't be allowed to join

The Football Association of Kosovo (FSK) will not be admitted to membership of the European and international football associations (UEFA and FIFA). At the same time, talks on allowing Kosovo to play friendly matches will be resumed, it was decided at a meeting held at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Thursday. UEFA, FIFA, FSS: Kosovo won't be allowed to join "Once again, we were met with a warm welcome and understanding by FIFA President (Sepp) Blatter, his associates and all other conference participants. I can express my satisfaction about the fact, as well as about the outcome of the talks,” President of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) Tomislav Karadzic said after the meeting. He urged the media to show understanding for the fact that there would be no public statements on the issue made after the holding of the following meeting on the topic, which was one of the conclusions from today's meeting. “The participants also discussed the possibility to allow Kosovo to play friendly matches (against nations who are members of FIFA and UEFA). In a detailed report, the members of the FSS delegation informed competent authorities about harmful consequences of such a decision for not only the Serbian football but also for the entire region,” the FSS said in a statement. FIFA initially approved Kosovo to play international friendlies, at a meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee in Budapest, but later suspended the decision. The Union of European Football Associations was also opposed to allowing Kosovo play exhibition matches, as Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations. The territory's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared idenepndence in early 2008, but Serbia rejects that proclamation. “It was agreed that representatives of FIFA, UEFA and the FSS should continue discussions on this issue, with the announced expectation that there will be plenty of consultation taking place and that the whole process will take a lot of time to complete,” says the FSS. At the head of the International Federation of Association Football delegation were FIFA President Blatter and Secretary General Jerome Valcke, while President Karadzic, Vice President Ivan Curkovic and Secretary General Zoran Lakovic were there on behalf of the FSS. The FIFA Congress in Budapest held earlier this month (Tanjug) B92 Tanjug

UEFA, FIFA, FSS: Kosovo won't be allowed to join

"Once again, we were met with a warm welcome and understanding by FIFA President (Sepp) Blatter, his associates and all other conference participants. I can express my satisfaction about the fact, as well as about the outcome of the talks,” President of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) Tomislav Karadžić said after the meeting.

He urged the media to show understanding for the fact that there would be no public statements on the issue made after the holding of the following meeting on the topic, which was one of the conclusions from today's meeting.

“The participants also discussed the possibility to allow Kosovo to play friendly matches (against nations who are members of FIFA and UEFA). In a detailed report, the members of the FSS delegation informed competent authorities about harmful consequences of such a decision for not only the Serbian football but also for the entire region,” the FSS said in a statement.

FIFA initially approved Kosovo to play international friendlies, at a meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee in Budapest, but later suspended the decision.

The Union of European Football Associations was also opposed to allowing Kosovo play exhibition matches, as Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations.

The territory's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared idenepndence in early 2008, but Serbia rejects that proclamation.

“It was agreed that representatives of FIFA, UEFA and the FSS should continue discussions on this issue, with the announced expectation that there will be plenty of consultation taking place and that the whole process will take a lot of time to complete,” says the FSS.

At the head of the International Federation of Association Football delegation were FIFA President Blatter and Secretary General Jerome Valcke, while President Karadžić, Vice President Ivan Ćurković and Secretary General Zoran Laković were there on behalf of the FSS.