Kosovo was given UEFA membership Tuesday and "could now be fast-tracked into FIFA and the 2018 World Cup qualifying program," according to Gorondi & Dunbar of the AP. UEFA's member federations voted 28-24 "to accept the former province of Serbia, which led the opposition." Two votes "were declared invalid." The UEFA congress also elected Florence Hardouin, the French Football Federation's marketing director, as a member of its exec committee. Also, UEFA interim General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis said that there were "about 30,000 tickets left for the European Championship in France, especially more expensive ones." He said, "The sale of tickets is very satisfactory, I have to admit. We expect a big party" (AP, 5/3).
SERBIAN OPPOSITION: REUTERS' Brian Homewood reported Kosovo was accepted, "despite strong opposition from neighbouring Serbia, from which it declared independence in 2008." Kosovo President Hashim Thaci wrote on his Facebook page: "Kosovo in UEFA! The best news for countless fans in our republic. Now we will play in international championships, some games will be won some will be lost but no one will ever keep us out from green fields." It was not "immediately clear whether FIFA would allow Kosovar players who have already played for another national team to switch nationalities." FIFA rules "do not allow players to change allegiance but there has been speculation that it could allow a one-off for Kosovo." This would have a "big impact on Switzerland and Albania both of which have contingents of players with Kosovar roots." Albanian FA President Armand Duka said that he "supported Kosovo's bid in any case." He said, "We have players of Kosovar origins and might be afraid of losing them, but this is not the issue." Before the vote, Serbian FA President Tomislav Karadzic had "urged the Congress to reject the application, saying it was a case of politics interfering with sport." Karadzic: "This is a political, not a footballing proposal. It would create tumult in the region and open a Pandora's box throughout Europe" (REUTERS, 5/3).
UEFA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: In a separate piece, Homewood reported UEFA said that "it is still possible to hold a presidential election before Euro 2016" if suspended President Michel Platini "fails to overturn his six-year ban from the sport." Platini and former FIFA President Sepp Blatter were banished over a payment of 2M Swiss francs made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter's approval in '11 "for work done a decade earlier." Both "have denied wrongdoing." UEFA said that it would "hold a meeting on May 18 which would either be a triumphant return for Platini, or otherwise to plot its next steps to find a replacement." UEFA Legal Dir Alasdair Bell said that, following a change in the statutes last year, "it was possible to stage the election before the European Championship starts in France on June 10, although that would not necessarily happen." He said, "Last year, we changed the rules so, if necessary, we could shorten the deadline from three months to two months or one month; that doesn't imply we will" (REUTERS, 5/3).
