FSS demands that Kosovo be denied right to play friendlies

BELGRADE - The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has sent a letter of protest to Sepp Blatter, president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), urging the organization to revoke the decision that allowed Kosovo-Metohija to play friendly matches.

In its release, the FSS cites as the reason for this reaction the incidents that took place during the match in southern Kosovska Mitrovica on Wednesday, when the players of Kosovo-Metohija had the coat of arms of the unrecognized state on their jerseys despite previous conditions.

"We would like to note that, on January 13 this year, members of the FIFA Emergency Committee made the unanimous decision to allow the senior representative team of the so-called Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) to play friendly matches, but under strict conditions- without displaying any national symbols on the jersey, stadium, without playing national anthems and with the obligation to put the symbol of an asterisk of the size of the letter "o" next to the name of Kosovo. However, during the very first match after the decision was made, several omissions, errors were seen, as well as insults to the national symbols of the Republic of Serbia," the release reads.

The FSS adds that the evidence emerged that players of the home team had the coat of arms of the so-called FFK on their jerseys.

The FSS urged that the disciplinary proceedings be instituted against all organizers of the game, as stewards were obliged to check the kit and equipment before the beginning of the match, and besides organizers, a FIFA special observer attended the match and also failed to react.

Before the beginning of the match, fans set ablaze the flag of the Republic of Serbia, and...