First crisis at EURO 2024: Kosovo files complaint against Serbia with UEFA

Kosovo has filed a complaint with UEFA regarding the match between Serbia and England in Group C of the 2024 European Football Championship (EURO 2024), citing the "display of flags, slogans, and chants containing political, chauvinistic, and racist messages against Kosovo" by Serbian fans.

The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) described the unhindered display of such messages and calls at EURO 2024 as "meaningless and absurd" in a statement it released.

The statement read, "The FFK announces to the public that it has officially reacted to UEFA regarding the display of flags, slogans, and chants containing political, chauvinistic, and racist messages against Kosovo by Serbian fans during the Serbia-England match. In the complaint submitted to UEFA along with the necessary evidence, the FFK requested strict disciplinary measures against the Football Association of Serbia, which repeats such incidents."

The statement emphasized that calls made against the state of Kosovo at a major event like EURO 2024 serve as a source of motivation for nationalist groups and threaten the fragile security of the region, and requested that organizers be vigilant to ensure such banners are not displayed in future matches.

Calling for individuals who harbor a philosophy of hatred against another person or country to be kept out of football stadiums, the statement added, "Football should not serve to promote the hate speech of chauvinists and racists."

The match played yesterday between Serbia and England in Group C of EURO 2024 ended in a 1-0 victory for England.

News Source: AA