UEFA slammed its Scottish counterparts as "reckless" after an official document claimed it viewed sectarian terms as part of the national game, according to Gerry Braiden of the Glasgow EVENING TIMES. The UEFA report alleges the Scottish FA told Dutch Eredivisie side Ajax terms such as "Fenian" and "Orange" were viewed as a "badge of honour" by half of Old Firm fans and it did not warn clubs about the use of such discriminatory language. The claims emerged in the findings of disciplinary action taken against Ajax after its fans displayed a banner with the words "Fenian B*******" when it last played Celtic in Amsterdam nearly two years ago. But "it has sparked fury within the corridors of Hampden, with the SFA insisting its only conversation with Ajax was to tell the club it would not provide any assistance in its disciplinary hearing." One SFA senior source said that it was "deeply unhappy" Ajax had made the claim and "disappointed" UEFA did not check the comments with Glasgow. UEFA concluded Ajax supporters who displayed the banner had "acted in a discriminatory manner ... since their provocative message is recognised as being offensive and discriminatory towards a group of persons on the grounds of religion and ethnic origin" (EVENING TIMES, 9/14). AL JAZEERA reported Kosovo "will be moving closer to joining UEFA this week and a place in 2018 World Cup qualifying round could become a possibility next year." Membership of UEFA "will allow the former Serbian enclave's national team and clubs to start playing in continental competitions." That "is the first step required before gaining FIFA membership, part of Kosovo's wider push for international recognition since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008" (AL JAZEERA, 9/15).
