The Serbian Football Federation (FSS) confirmed on Thursday that it had removed symbols representing Kosovo from the 49th UEFA Congress, currently being held in Belgrade. The removal of Kosovo’s state symbols was also documented in photos published by the Associated Press.
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| Screenshot of the announcement from the Serbian Football Federation |
The controversy arose after images and videos surfaced from the Sava Congress Center, where the UEFA event is taking place. One video, which quickly went viral on social media, showed the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK), Agim Ademi, touching the Kosovo flag.
In response, the Serbian Football Federation accused Ademi of attempting to exploit the event for non-football-related interests. The FSS further stated that all symbols representing Kosovo had been removed from the venue.
🇽🇰 Kosovo flag was displayed in one of the largest halls in Belgrade, Serbia, where the 49th UEFA Congress is being held. pic.twitter.com/6Dv0eN8CWs
— kos_data (@kos_data) April 2, 2025
"Today, the 49th UEFA Congress is being held in Belgrade, one of the biggest events in our country. UEFA is the organizer, while the Serbian Football Federation is hosting the most important football figures from Europe and around the world. A shadow was cast over this exceptional organization, as a participant of the Congress tried to take advantage of it for non-football purposes. We reacted together, quickly, and decisively, and we fully inform the public that there are no symbols or flags representing the so-called Kosovo at today's UEFA Congress in Belgrade," the FSS statement read.
The Serbian Football Federation also issued an apology to Serbian citizens, saying they regretted the oversight by the event organizers, which they claimed was "immediately corrected."
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo in the realm of international sports, where political disputes often spill over into major events.