Spanish Football Chiefs Outrage Kosovo by Calling it a ‘Territory’

A World Cup qualifying match between Spain and Kosovo scheduled for March 31 has been put in question after the Spanish Football Federation in a tweet described Kosovo as the "territory of Kosovo" rather than an independent state.

Spain is one of five European Union countries that have not recognised the former province of Serbia which unilaterally declared independence in 2008.

The post said that Spanish football coach Luis Enrique on March 15 will make public the list of national team members for three international qualification matches for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Spain will play Greece, Georgia and Kosovo in its March calendar, but the post referred to the latter only as a territory.

Moments after the Football Federation released this post, Spain's sports daily Marca reported that the Spanish Football Federation had been working for months with the Spanish Foreign Ministry on the modalities of the match in Seville against Kosovo.

Marca reported that, according to the protocol approved, there will be no reference to Kosovo as a sovereign nation but only as a "territory".

The same rule will affect the flag, which may not be displayed next to the Spanish flag like that of a sovereign country. The Kosovo anthem, meanwhile, will be presented "music donated by the territory of Kosovo".

Kosovo became member of world and European football governing bodies in 2016. Since declaring independence it has been recognised by more than 110 countries. But, besides Serbia, Russia, China and some other countries, five EU states - Spain, Slovakia, Romania, Cyprus and Greece - also do not recognise it.