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| From the left: Edi Rama, Elseid Hysaj, Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior and Armando Duka |
After a reward of 200 million lekë, the Albanian government has granted diplomatic passports to the national football team. It was Prime Minister Edi Rama himself who handed over the passport to Captain Elseid Hysaj today, referring to the red and black players as the "best ambassadors of the country."
"We gave diplomatic passports to all athletes and coaches, but they did not qualify after 4 years, and the diplomatic passports expired. Now is the time to renew the passports on time, and this will also benefit the players who have it for the first time, as ambassadors of the Albanian state, worthy ambassadors. I am very proud, and I called Captain Hysaj unreliable until the end that he would receive the passport today, of course, like others when I say a word, I will keep it. Now he will learn that when I say it, I will keep it," Rama expressed during the gala evening held by the Albanian Football Federation to honor the "best of the best."
Initially, diplomatic passports were given to the national team immediately after Euro 2016, but after a Council of Ministers decision, these individuals were no longer categorized as eligible for diplomatic passports. This caused a lot of uproar as it was seen as a lack of respect for players who had given a lot to the country. Therefore, due to the achievements secured in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, the government has reinstated diplomatic passports for the national team.