Spain announces football match with ‘territory of Kosovo’ – EURACTIV.com

Kosovo’s men’s senior football team, which is set to play a series of international matches against Spain, Greece and Georgia, was referred to by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) as the “territory of Kosovo” in a public statement published on its website on 9 March. Spain is one of the five EU countries that do not recognise Kosovo.

The same day, Spanish sports daily newspaper Marca reported that the Kosovo flag would not be displayed next to the Spanish flag before kick-off and that its anthem would be announced as “music donated by the territory of Kosovo.”

Further reports suggested that these decisions had been made due to pressure applied by Spain’s foreign ministry, Prishtina Insight reported.

Twenty-two of the 27 member states have recognised Kosovo as an independent state. The EU states that do not recognise Kosovo’s independence are Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece.