Kosovo Joins UEFA, Eyes FIFA Membership Next
With 28 votes in favor, 24 against and two abstentions at the UEFA congress in Budapest, on May 3, 2016, Kosovo was accepted as a full member, thus becoming the 55th member of this European football organization, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.
The President of the Football Federation of Kosovo, Fadil Vokrri, who was present at the UEFA congress, described Kosovo's membership in UEFA as a historic achievement and delayed justice.
"A delayed justice, but, considering the legal blockades that have been presented to Kosovo, we managed to be accepted, this is an extraordinary achievement. The moments inside the UEFA assembly were difficult because of the direction given to the assembly by some countries. However, we managed to join UEFA and now it's our turn to join the FIFA congress in Mexico next week. Even in this assembly, the acceptance of Kosovo or not is on the agenda. So this is a victory for everyone", said Vokrri.
Serbia was positioned against membership.
"Politics and football should not be mixed up in the most ugly way. We will take care of a protest in the region," Tomislav Karadzic, head of the Football Federation of Serbia, said before the vote.
UEFA membership enabled Kosovar teams to participate in European football competitions. It also paved the way for Kosovo to become a member of the World Football Federation - FIFA, in Mexico City, at the congress held on 12 and 13 May 2016.
