The Football Union of Serbia has been fined after a flag outlining Kosovo in Serbian colors was hung in the dressing room before a game.
The FIFA disciplinary chamber imposed a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs on the Serbian association, as FIFA announced on Wednesday (December 7th, 2022). The flag featured the outline of Kosovo in Serbian colors and the message “Never Give Up”. The flag was hung in Serbia’s dressing room before the game against Brazil on November 24, and a picture of it was posted on social media.
The FIFA Disciplinary Body referred to its Disciplinary Rules which, for example “offensive behavior” or the use of “Sports events for non-sports rallies” makes punishable.
Kosovo has been a member of FIFA and UEFA since 2016
The Football Association of Kosovo (FFK) reacted to the picture with clear words. “It is shameful that the leaders of the Football Union of Serbia allowed such xenophobic and genocidal messages of hate against an equal member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA and UEFA”wrote the FFK on Twitter.
Serbia does not recognize Kosovo and continues to claim it back as its own territory. Kosovo has been an independent member of FIFA and UEFA since 2016.