Kosovo Football Federation

A big screen erected in Kosovo's main sports stadium has welcomed Spain's national football team to Pristina as the two teams go head to head on Wednesday evening in a World Cup "Qatar 2022" qualifying match.

A statue of Kosovo's best-known football player, Fadil Vokrri, was unveiled on Friday at the Pristina city stadium named after him. The statue was unveiled to mark what would have been his 61st birthday.

Four football officials have been indicted in Kosovo for allegedly fixing a match played in the northern city of Mitrovica in February, to secure a Belgian-based relative of one of those involved 10,000 euros in prize winnings, media reported on Thursday.

"We have worked hard with our fan community to have a pro-Western approach and sporting behavior with opponents, including respect and warm hospitality. We are an example in the Balkan region, with no excesses, nationalist or racist chants," said Eroll Salihu, secretary-general of the Kosovo Football Federation.

Kosovo authorities on Wednesday banned a football match from taking place in the disputed Serb-dominated north of the country between Serbian club Red Star and a local team, Trepca, which it does not recognise, after calling it a "serious provocation".

The Kosovo Football Federation, FFK, has expressed fury over a letter from the world football body FIFA, calling on it to lift a ban on a planned match that it insists is "illegal" in the Serb-run north of Kosovo.

The Kosovo Football Federation, FFK, has condemned plans by its Serbian counterpart to organise a competitive match without its permission in the disputed Serb-dominated north of the country, calling it a "serious provocation"

Kosovo's national team is eyeing ways to recruit fresh talent as it readies to start playing competitive matches in the newly established UEFA League of Nations in September.

Placed in Group 3 of League D, Kosovo will play against Malta, Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan.

The top team in Group 3 will be promoted to a higher league, playing against more difficult opponents.

Kosovo's karate team was not allowed to enter Serbia on Wednesday morning for the European Karate Championship which will be held in Novi Sad on May 10- 13.

After the Kosovo Football Federation banned a matched between the Serbian club Red Star and Gracanica, in central Kosovo, Serbian right-wingers have announced they will block roads in the Serbian city of Novi Sad if Kosovo karate players take part there in the upcoming European championship.