[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of Serbia in relation to the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup, the British BBC reported on the 27th (local time).
The Serbian national football team, which participated in the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup, displayed a politically charged flag related to Kosovo in their locker room ahead of a group stage match. Kosovo experienced a civil war in the late 1990s during the breakup of the Yugoslav Federation, resulting in thousands of deaths, and declared independence from Serbia in 2008 under the approval of the United Nations and the United States. However, Russia and China do not recognize Kosovo's independence, and Serbia still does not acknowledge Kosovo's independence, considering it part of its own territory. The controversial flag reportedly covered the entire map of Kosovo with the Serbian national flag pattern, indicating that Kosovo is Serbian territory, and bore the phrase "No Surrender."
The Kosovo Football Federation, having obtained this photo, officially protested to FIFA, which plans to hold a disciplinary committee meeting to address the issue.
Serbia and Kosovo recently experienced conflict over vehicle license plates. The issue began when Kosovo required ethnic Serb residents within its territory to replace Serbian-issued license plates with Kosovo-issued ones starting earlier this month. After a three-week grace period, from the 22nd, Kosovo imposed fines on drivers refusing to change their license plates. However, on the 24th, the European Union (EU) mediated, temporarily resolving the conflict between the two countries.
Serbia reacted to FIFA's measures by calling them "hypocritical." According to Sputnik News Agency, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Da?i? said in an interview with domestic media, "As a country, we cannot respond to a sports organization," but added, "This incident shows how serious the hypocrisy is." Minister Da?i? pointed out, "FIFA's approval means nothing. FIFA includes members of a regional nature," and noted, "The United Nations has not recognized Kosovo as a country."
Kosovo became a member of FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in 2016, but the tension between Serbia and Kosovo is so severe that the World Cup regional qualifiers were arranged in advance to prevent the two countries from facing each other.
Kosovo did not qualify for this World Cup finals.
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