Football in Kosovo

A big screen erected in Kosovo's main sports stadium has welcomed Spain's national football team to Pristina as the two teams go head to head on Wednesday evening in a World Cup "Qatar 2022" qualifying match.

Kosovo authorities on Wednesday banned a football match from taking place in the disputed Serb-dominated north of the country between Serbian club Red Star and a local team, Trepca, which it does not recognise, after calling it a "serious provocation".

The Kosovo Football Federation, FFK, has condemned plans by its Serbian counterpart to organise a competitive match without its permission in the disputed Serb-dominated north of the country, calling it a "serious provocation"

Kosovo's national team is eyeing ways to recruit fresh talent as it readies to start playing competitive matches in the newly established UEFA League of Nations in September.

Placed in Group 3 of League D, Kosovo will play against Malta, Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan.

The top team in Group 3 will be promoted to a higher league, playing against more difficult opponents.

Swiss footballers Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri were fined 10,000 Swiss francs [8,600 euros] by FIFA on Monday for celebrating their goals against Serbia in the World Cup with a double-headed eagle gesture symbolising the Albanian flag, The Associated Press reported on Monday.

The governing body for Swiss football has dismissed as baseless reports in the Serbian media that Russia had urged the Swiss Football Federation to ban "Greater Albania" or Kosovo flags and symbols during Friday's match between Switzerland and Serbia in Kaliningrad.

After the Kosovo Football Federation banned a matched between the Serbian club Red Star and Gracanica, in central Kosovo, Serbian right-wingers have announced they will block roads in the Serbian city of Novi Sad if Kosovo karate players take part there in the upcoming European championship.

Kosovo's Football Federation has expressed a willingness to try to integrate clubs from the Serbian community - but says political pressure from Serbia is keeping young Serbs from joining official football activities

With its stadiums not meeting UEFA requirements, Kosovo's national team embarrassingly has been forced to play World Cup Qualification host matches in neighbouring Albania.

However, on his first visit to Kosovo since his September election as UEFA's new president, Aleksandar Ceferin on Thursday offered a helping hand while observing the renovation works at Pristina City Stadium.

Tens of thousands of football fans in Kosovo crowded the Adem Jashari stadium in South Mitrovica for an unprecedented event on Tuesday evening.

They had come to see the first team from Kosovo ever to play in the Champions League qualifiers since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.