Kosovo accepted into UEFA

[SteveHFC]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36193445

Kosovo have been granted membership of European governing body Uefa.
The vote was 28-24 in favour of the country which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The Serbs strongly opposed Kosovo's election.
Kosovo played their first international friendly in 2014 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26451936) after being granted permission by football's global governing body Fifa.
Joining Uefa means they can now apply to Fifa and could play in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup if accepted.
Kosovo, which is still not a United Nations member, previously attempted to recruit the services of Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, who was born to Kosovan-Albanian parents.
But the 21-year-old winger has since played for Belgium, the country of his birth.
Kosovo's complicated political status has seen several players born in the state play for different countries, including Xherdan Shaqiri and Valon Behrami (Switzerland), Shefki Kuqi (Finland) and Lorik Cana (Albania).

[GreenLake]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36193445

Kosovo have been granted membership of European governing body Uefa.
The vote was 28-24 in favour of the country which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The Serbs strongly opposed Kosovo's election.
Kosovo played their first international friendly in 2014 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26451936) after being granted permission by football's global governing body Fifa.
Joining Uefa means they can now apply to Fifa and could play in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup if accepted.
Kosovo, which is still not a United Nations member, previously attempted to recruit the services of Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, who was born to Kosovan-Albanian parents.
But the 21-year-old winger has since played for Belgium, the country of his birth.
Kosovo's complicated political status has seen several players born in the state play for different countries, including Xherdan Shaqiri and Valon Behrami (Switzerland), Shefki Kuqi (Finland) and Lorik Cana (Albania).

Another potential banana skin to draw in the qualifiers.

[steakbake]

Allan Green will be doing his nut in. He famously commented that competitions should be cleared of "ridiculous" teams on the eve of England drawing with Costa Rica and crashing out of the World Cup.

Personally, the more the merrier. Kosovo are also likely to be able to draw on some pretty handy diaspora players, I reckon. They'll be a reasonably tricky team to be drawn against.

[SJM]

Could be some tasty games in that region in future qualifiers. I've never liked the Serbs and would love to see them get pumped off the likes of Kosovo and Albania.

[CropleyWasGod]

Another potential banana skin to draw in the qualifiers.

Kuqi to score the winner :greengrin

[Albanian Hibs]

Great 🙄

[Sir David Gray]

Could be some tasty games in that region in future qualifiers. I've never liked the Serbs and would love to see them get pumped off the likes of Kosovo and Albania.

There's not a chance in hell of Serbia and Kosovo being allowed to be drawn in the same group anytime soon.

[Giro Playboy]

There's not a chance in hell of Serbia and Kosovo being allowed to be drawn in the same group anytime soon. Serbia have said they will refuse to play them as they dont recognise Kosovos right to exist. Im sure when Gibraltar joined FIFA Spain said they would never play them.

[hibsdaft]

There's not a chance in hell of Serbia and Kosovo being allowed to be drawn in the same group anytime soon.

my first thought too.

[Sir David Gray]

Serbia have said they will refuse to play them as they dont recognise Kosovos right to exist. Im sure when Gibraltar joined FIFA Spain said they would never play them.

Correct.

Gibraltar and Spain are not allowed to play each other and their relationship is a lot less volatile than the one between Serbia and Kosovo. Serbia doesn't recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence.

Armenia and Azerbaijan won't play each other either due to the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

[Hibernia&Alba]

Are Serbia and Bosnia allowed to play each other? And what about Serbia and Croatia?

[Sir David Gray]

Are Serbia and Bosnia allowed to play each other? And what about Serbia and Croatia?

Yes to both of them.

[jacomo]

Brexit now! :wink:

[Zazu62]

What teams in Europe or world football can't play each other? Is there any?

[lucky]

Does Queen Nicola know that countries can refuse to play each other? I'm sure our games against England would be cancelled.

[Hibernia&Alba]

What teams in Europe or world football can't play each other? Is there any?

How about Iran and Israel? That must be a good shout.

[steakbake]

Does Queen Nicola know that countries can refuse to play each other? I'm sure our games against England would be cancelled.

Eh?!

[Sir David Gray]

How about Iran and Israel? That must be a good shout.

Most of the Asian continent wouldn't play against Israel. That's the reason why they are members of UEFA.

[Zazu62]

Azerbaijan and Armenia are the only 2 I think

[Sir David Gray]

What teams in Europe or world football can't play each other? Is there any?

Serbia and Albania probably won't be playing each other anytime soon after the incident that took place during their Euro 2016 qualification match, a year or so ago.

Funnily enough there doesn't seem to be any ban on North Korea playing South Korea, despite the two nations still being technically at war.

[cabbageandribs1875]

Eh?!


best ignored, he couldn't wind a clock up




:coffee:

[JC94]

What teams in Europe or world football can't play each other? Is there any?

Russia cant play Ukraine as well as their club teams cant play each other should they meet in any European competitions. Azerbaijan cant play Armenia due to troubles that have started back again this year for the first time in 30 years.

[Hibernia&Alba]

Russia cant play Ukraine as well as their club teams cant play each other should they meet in any European competitions. Azerbaijan cant play Armenia due to troubles that have started back again this year for the first time in 30 years.

That's a good shout.

[steakbake]

Never mind banning stuff. Just get the SFA to lend them the magic Old Firm hair dryer. Probably net us more than the p***taking sponsorship deals they keep meekly agreeing to.

[Sir David Gray]

I think Russia and Georgia might be off the cards at the moment too.

[Albanian Hibs]

Serbia and Albania probably won't be playing each other anytime soon after the incident that took place during their Euro 2016 qualification match, a year or so ago.

Funnily enough there doesn't seem to be any ban on North Korea playing South Korea, despite the two nations still being technically at war.

They have actually played each other once since that drone incident happened in 2014 in Serbia. They played in Albania in Oct last year

[Sir David Gray]

They have actually played each other once since that drone incident happened in 2014 in Serbia. They played in Albania in Oct last year

Yeah I know but that was in the return game in the same qualification group.

I would doubt if they'll be drawn together in the same group again in the near future.

[Glory Lurker]

Scotland are banned from playing anyone at all in major championships.

[Bristolhibby]

Azerbaijan and Armenia are the only 2 I think

IIRC Russia and Georgia are another. On account of Russia invading Georgia a couple of years ago.

What about Russia and Ukraine?

J

[Bristolhibby]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36193445

Kosovo have been granted membership of European governing body Uefa.
The vote was 28-24 in favour of the country which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The Serbs strongly opposed Kosovo's election.
Kosovo played their first international friendly in 2014 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26451936) after being granted permission by football's global governing body Fifa.
Joining Uefa means they can now apply to Fifa and could play in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup if accepted.
Kosovo, which is still not a United Nations member, previously attempted to recruit the services of Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, who was born to Kosovan-Albanian parents.
But the 21-year-old winger has since played for Belgium, the country of his birth.
Kosovo's complicated political status has seen several players born in the state play for different countries, including Xherdan Shaqiri and Valon Behrami (Switzerland), Shefki Kuqi (Finland) and Lorik Cana (Albania).

Regarding Adnan Januzaj, is there not Precedence after the breakup of Yugoslavia where players played for Yugoslavia and then played for their newly independent country? Most of the original Croatia team had played for Yugoslavia.

J

[GreenLake]

Serbia have said they will refuse to play them as they dont recognise Kosovos right to exist. Im sure when Gibraltar joined FIFA Spain said they would never play them.

That's okay. 3 points to Kosovo

[EH75]

Regarding Adnan Januzaj, is there not Precedence after the breakup of Yugoslavia where players played for Yugoslavia and then played for their newly independent country? Most of the original Croatia team had played for Yugoslavia.

J

Aye but was that not because yugoslavia no longer existed and therefore there was no alternative? Bit gutting for Januzaj though I'm sure I read somewhere before that Kosovo was always his first choice.

[Bishop Hibee]

Interesting article here http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/footballs-greatest-rivalries-turkey-v-armenia-366683 on how football helped thaw relations between Armenia and Turkey.

[ekhibee]

Surely they'll have Rita Ora singing the national anthem at the start of each game? She's the only famous Kossovan I can think of.

[MWHIBBIES]

Surely they'll have Rita Ora singing the national anthem at the start of each game? She's the only famous Kossovan I can think of.Quite a few well known footballers, Valon Behrami, Lorik Cana, Adnan Januzaj, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka all born there.

[LancsHibs]

Surely they'll have Rita Ora singing the national anthem at the start of each game? She's the only famous Kossovan I can think of.

She's Bosnian

[MoscowHibs]

I'm pretty sure Cyprus playing Turkey is a no no just now. When I was living in Nicosia Fenerbahce basketball club were playing Apoel. The Turks were sneaked into the Greek side from the Turkish side and it was total mayhem, a crowd gathered outside wanting blood, which resulted in the Turks being holed up in the sports arena for 24 hours before being sneaked back out.

[JC94]

IIRC Russia and Georgia are another. On account of Russia invading Georgia a couple of years ago.

What about Russia and Ukraine?

J

They cant play each other, kept apart in international and club competitions. Last years Europa League quarter final 3 out of the 8 teams were from Russia/Ukraine and Uefa didnt have plan in place should they have advanced to the Semi.

[Sir David Gray]

I'm pretty sure Cyprus playing Turkey is a no no just now. When I was living in Nicosia Fenerbahce basketball club were playing Apoel. The Turks were sneaked into the Greek side from the Turkish side and it was total mayhem, a crowd gathered outside wanting blood, which resulted in the Turks being holed up in the sports arena for 24 hours before being sneaked back out.

I'm pretty sure that will be correct since Turkey doesn't recognise Cyprus' sovereignty due to their claims on the northern part of the island.

The Greek Cypriots, in my experience, absolutely despise Turkey.

[SJM]

I'm pretty sure that will be correct since Turkey doesn't recognise Cyprus' sovereignty due to their claims on the northern part of the island.

The Greek Cypriots, in my experience, absolutely despise Turkey.

What do they have for Xmas dinner then?

[LancsHibs]

What do they have for Xmas dinner then?

There are no Turkeys in Cyprus just massive dry chickens!

[Albanian Hibs]

She's Bosnian

Nope. Born in Prishtina (Kosovo) to Albanian parents

[LancsHibs]

Nope. Born in Prishtina (Kosovo) to Albanian parents

My mistake, just recall one of her videos being filmed in Sarajevo and her saying something about home? Maybe she lived there at some time??

[SJM]

There are no Turkeys in Cyprus just massive dry chickens!

Different gravy over there.

[Bristolhibby]

Aye but was that not because yugoslavia no longer existed and therefore there was no alternative? Bit gutting for Januzaj though I'm sure I read somewhere before that Kosovo was always his first choice.

I recon he would have a good case to set a Precedence. Almost like the Eire v Northern Ireland type of case. I'm generalising with my example, Born a Catholic in one Nothern Ireland, but not feeling that country represents you is able to play for another (the Republic).

J

[ekhibee]

She's Bosnian
No she isn't, she was born in Kossovo, she's from an ethnic Albanian family.