Kosovo has become the newest member of European football’s governing body UEFA. The country which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 was
ADVERTISEMENTKosovo has become the newest member of European football’s governing body UEFA.
The country which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 was granted membership following a vote at the 40th Ordinary UEFA Congress which took place in Budapest, Hungary.
At the congress UEFA also elected Florence Hardouin, the French football federation’s marketing director, as its first female executive member in a landmark vote.
On accepting her new role Hardouin said: “With all my experience and knowledge I would like to contribute to the economical progress of UEFA and the better application of actual sources”.
It was an emotional night for Kosovo officials.
The vote was 28-24 in favour of the Balkan territory who might just now be setting their sights on the 2018 World Cup qualifiers as our correspondent Péter Kristóf explains.
He said: “The fact Kosovo became an UEFA member country, means FIFA’s ruling council next week can now make a decision about the country’s application to become a member of football’s world governing body too. As for the next UEFA Congress, it will be next year in Finland.’‘