Minister Krasniqi in the meeting with Blatter: It is a fundamental right that our football players are equal with the others in the international arena

Following recognition of Kosovo by the International Olympic Committee, which is the most representative sports institution in the world, now the moment has come that International Football Federation (FIFA) and the European Football Federation (UEFA) to break the isolation of Kosovo football too. It is a fundamental right of ours to be an equal part of international competitions in football.

This is what the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Memli Krasniqi said today while in a meeting with the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, which took place in Zurich in Switzerland in the main office of FIFA. Minister Krasniqi in this meeting was together with the president of Kosovo Football Federation (KFF), Fadil Vokrri and the General Secretary of KFF, Eroll Salihu.

This was the first official meeting that a senior official of the Government of Kosovo has with the chairman of the highest institution of football in the world.

Minister Krasniqi and KFF president Vokrri in this meeting thanked Mr. Blatter for the great support he has given till now into advancement and internationalisation of our football, in particular for allowing the official international friendly matches.

They informed Mr. Blatter as regards to the progress of friendly matches Kosovo has had till now, through which our country has shown the great passion for football game as a tool for uniting people, and KFF has demonstrated high quality in good organisation of matches, respecting the diversity and fair play.

Minister Krasniqi and KFF president Vokrri informed the president of FIFA also about the investment that has been made till now in development of football in Kosovo, in enhancement of the infrastructure and also in development of national competitions in conformity with international rules.

Minister Krasniqi said that denying of the right to undertake official competition in every level in football has caused a range of challenges in the country in further development of football and in building a sound perspective of the society through sport.

In addition he said that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is highly committed to respect the full autonomy of KFF in its work, but also of every other sports institution. But he further added that the Government is highly dedicated to working in realisation of a right of Kosovo football players.

“We have played and we are playing the role of facilitator and supporter in achievement of objectives of sports institutions and in improvement of the infrastructure. We are supporters of KFF also in the process of internationalisation, for what they have worked for a long time and we will be there to support them and our football players also in future processes which are interrelated with achievement of human aim to be an equal part of football world”, Minister Krasniqi said.

Whereas KFF president Vokrri said that Kosovar football players were isolated unfairly for 20 years.

“Unfairly the football players of Kosovo for 20 years have been isolated due to political reasons, and this must not last any longer. Our football players seek nothing more but a fundamental right they are entitled to just like all other football players in the world. International Olympic Committee gave an example for this, thus opening the door to Kosovo, and the motivation of our athletes from this moment on has increased a lot. We are a country that loves football, and we want that we are also enabled to show our passion and potential and it is simply a fundamental human right which we are seeking”, the president Vokrri said.

Whereas the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter congratulating for the up to date work and successes, confirmed to the delegation of Kosovo the support in principle from himself and from FIFA too, expressing that following admission of KFF in UEFA, the admission by FIFA will follow very soon.

“Unfortunately, the legal constraint for admission in UEFA still exists, but I hope that you will manage to overcome this obstacle, so that the football players of Kosovo have more opportunities to present themselves in international arena”, he stated.

Minister also notified him about the proposal for allocation of the Presidential Medal of Merits and in turn Blatter thanked them for that.

Kosovar delegation during the day will also have other meetings with important personalities in international football with the purpose of enhancing the process of internationalisation.