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Reuters
Since Spain drew fate with Kosovo, a country not recognized by it, during the European qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, the meeting scheduled between them today, Wednesday, has taken on a diplomatic dimension.
While Kosovo, the former Serbian, predominantly Albanian province, regards this match as a form of recognition of its independence, Madrid stresses that it is only a simple “sporting event”.
Spain refuses to recognize Kosovo because the Iberian state, which faces strong opposition from the region of Catalonia, calls for secession from Spain and fears that the Kosovo experience will be repeated on its soil .
Controversy erupted between the two countries after the Spanish Football Association published the schedule of qualifying matches of “La Roja” for the World Cup in Qatar, in which Greece, Georgia and the “region wrote. of Kosovo “.
The denomination of “Territory” angered the Kosovo Gaming Federation, responding in a statement that “Kosovo is an independent country” and threatening not to participate in the match if it was not allowed to hoist the flag of his country and to play the national anthem.
Things did not end there, as the Serbian capital, Belgrade, entered the line, expressing its dissatisfaction with the recognition by the European Football Confederation (UEFA) and international “FIFA” since 2016 of Kosovo as a country. in its own right, while it still considers it an integral part of its territory.
Although Kosovo announced its secession from Serbia in 2008, countries like Spain and Greece that play in the same squad, or China and Russia, do not recognize it.
Source: Agencies
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