FIFA mentioned it is going to examine Serbia’s soccer affiliation after picture of the flag exhibiting Kosovo as a part of Serbia was hung in workforce’s dressing room.
FIFA has launched an investigation after pictures emerged of a Serbian nationalist flag hung up within the soccer workforce’s dressing room once they confronted Brazil on the World Cup.
The define of Kosovo could be seen on the flag underneath the Serbian nationwide colors. Albanian-majority Kosovo claimed independence from Serbia in 2008 and is now a FIFA member, however Serbia doesn’t recognise its sovereignty.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings in opposition to the Soccer Affiliation of Serbia on account of a flag displayed of their dressing room on the event of the Brazil v Serbia,” FIFA mentioned in a press release on Saturday.
“The proceedings have been opened on the premise of Article 11 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 4 of the Rules for the FIFA World Cup 2022.”
The Kosovo Soccer Federation (FKK) mentioned it “strongly condemns Serbia’s aggressive actions” in opposition to Kosovo.
“The World Cup is an occasion of pleasure and unity, it ought to ship messages of hope and peace, not messages of hate,” the FFK mentioned in a tweet. “We name on FIFA to take measures in opposition to such actions.”
The flag with the inscription “We don’t give up” was additionally displayed by a number of Serbia followers within the stadium in the course of the opening 2-0 World Cup defeat in opposition to Brazil in Qatar on Thursday.
The picture of the flag went viral on social media when it was shared by Hajrulla Ceku, Kosovo’s Minister of Tradition, Youth and Sport.
“Disgraceful photographs from Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages in the direction of Kosova, whereas exploiting FIFA World Cup platform,” Ceku mentioned on Twitter, referring to the nation by its Albanian identify.
“We count on concrete actions from FIFA contemplating that the Kosovo Soccer Federation is a full FIFA and UEFA member.”
Disgraceful photographs from #Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages in the direction of #Kosova, whereas exploiting #FIFAWorldCup platform.
We count on concrete actions from @FIFAcom contemplating that the @FFK_KS 🇽🇰 is a full FIFA and UEFA member. pic.twitter.com/xwu6i0j7dG
— Hajrulla Çeku (@HCeku) November 25, 2022
No participant could be seen within the {photograph} of the flag within the dressing room, which was hanging above the jerseys and lockers of defender Milos Veljkovic and midfielder Andrija Zivkovic.
Veljkovic performs for Werder Bremen, and a spokesperson for the Bundesliga membership informed the Deichstube web site that the participant solely came upon concerning the picture after the match.
When the Serbia gamers returned to the dressing room, there was no flag hanging there, the spokesperson added.
Serbia, who misplaced 2-0 to Brazil, subsequent play Cameroon on Monday. Their soccer federation (FSS) didn’t reply when requested for remark.