FIFA investigates Serbian nationalist flag in dressing room

FIFA stated it is going to examine Serbia’s soccer affiliation after picture of the flag displaying Kosovo as a part of Serbia was hung in staff’s dressing room.

layers of Serbia
Gamers of Serbia following the FIFA World Cup 2022 Group G soccer match towards Brazil at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on November 24, 2022 [Ali Haider/EPA]

FIFA has launched an investigation after pictures emerged of a Serbian nationalist flag hung up within the soccer staff’s dressing room once they confronted Brazil on the World Cup.

The define of Kosovo could be seen on the flag beneath 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 towards the Soccer Affiliation of Serbia as a consequence of a flag displayed of their dressing room on the event of the Brazil v Serbia,” FIFA stated in a press release on Saturday.

“The proceedings have been opened on the idea 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) stated it “strongly condemns Serbia’s aggressive actions” towards 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 stated in a tweet. “We name on FIFA to take measures towards 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 towards 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 photos from Serbia locker room, displaying hateful, xenophobic and genocidal messages in direction of Kosova, whereas exploiting FIFA World Cup platform,” Ceku stated on Twitter, referring to the nation by its Albanian title.

“We count on concrete actions from FIFA contemplating that the Kosovo Soccer Federation is a full FIFA and UEFA member.”

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 instructed the Deichstube web site that the participant solely came upon in regards to the photograph 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.

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