TIRANA, May 3 – Kosovo won a huge battle on Tuesday when it was voted as the 55th member of European football governing body, UEFA, but the Albanian national side which is making its first ever participation in a major competition such as Euro 2016 could suffer a setback as most of its key players are of Kosovo origin and could leave the national side once Kosovo becomes a full FIFA member.
UEFA member associations voted 28-24 to accept Kosovo as the 55th UEFA member, in exactly the number of votes needed to place the country on a fast track for the 2018 World Cup qualifying program. The decision means Kosovo will be able to play in European club and country competitions and can apply to join the world football’s governing body FIFA and play in the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Kosovo has been striving to gain membership in international organizations since 2008 when it declared independence from Serbia. The ethnic-Albanian neighboring country is now recognized by 112 countries, but Serbia still continues lobbying hard against the membership of its former province.
Albania’s Italian-born coach Gianni De Biasi, has assured no player with Kosovo roots currently playing with the national side will be leaving.
“Some 50 percent of our players are from Kosovo but have chosen to play for Albania. Nobody will leave the Albanian national team after Kosovo is recognized by FIFA. We have a deal with our Kosovo friends and brothers under which players currently playing with Albania will not be called up by Kosovo,” De Biasi has earlier assured.
Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha, captain Lorik Cana, midfielders Taulant Xhaka, Ermir Lenjani and striker Shkelzen Gashi, all of whom have Kosovo roots, have been regular starters in Albania’s Euro qualifying campaign with a key contribution to the country’s historic first-ever qualification.
Since 2014, Kosovo has been allowed to play in friendlies without displaying national symbols or playing the national anthem although not officially recognized by football governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.
Last November, Albania and Kosovo played a friendly after the Red & Blacks claimed a historic direct qualification for France 2016.
A considerable number of Kosovo fans follow Albania’s matches and its first ever qualification in a European championship was celebrated as historic in Kosovo, Macedonia, and among Albanian communities all over the world.
Kosovo’s UEFA membership has also also sparked concerns in Switzerland as some of its key players have Kosovo roots and although they are unlikely to abandon it, younger generations of players could pick Kosovo.
Albania will face hosts France, Switzerland and Romania in Group A of the Euro 2016 in a bid to make another surprise campaign after a historic qualification as an outsider.
Albania will make its first-ever appearance in a major football competition on June 11, 2016 against Switzerland in what is considered a derby as the Albanian side features as many as seven Swiss-born players while five of the Swiss internationals have Albanian roots.
