By Graham Dunbar / The Associated Press
GENEVA—Spain’s refusal to respect the flag and anthem of Kosovo has forced UEFA to move qualifying games in soccer’s Under-17 European Championship.
The latest hostility from Spain toward athletes from Kosovo seems to break a promise its government made to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to respect athlete rights.
The IOC intervened in November, and announced an agreement reached with Spanish ministers, after Kosovo symbols were prohibited at the karate world championships in Madrid.
“This will ensure that the athletes of Kosovo can participate under the same conditions as all the other athletes from the 206 National Olympic Committees recognized by the IOC,” the Olympic body said three months ago.
The Spanish city of Bilbao is also one of 12 cities selected by UEFA to host the 2020 European Championship, with Kosovo a potential qualifier. The Balkan republic is assured of a place in the March 2020 playoff round.
Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 is still not formally recognized by some European countries which have their own issues with separatist regions.
Now, UEFA confirmed on Monday that six games in a four-nation qualifying group for its main youth championship can no longer be played in Spain next month.
The games, also involving Greece and Ukraine, had been scheduled in Benidorm and Alcoy in eastern Spain.
“These under-17 matches will not be played in Spain, as the national symbols [flag and anthem] of Kosovo are not recognized, authorized in the country,” UEFA said.
Instead, the four national teams will come to the stadium next to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, to play the games from March 25 to 31.
Spain’s political stance on Kosovo has affected soccer after UEFA selected Madrid to host the Champions League final this season, though no team from Kosovo will be involved.
However, Kosovo won its UEFA Nations League group in November and is a contender to play at Euro 2020.
Spain’s government has also expressed interest in bidding to host the 2030 World Cup with neighboring Portugal and Morocco.
Former Barcelona President Sandro Rosell, meanwhile, arrived in handcuffs on Monday to stand trial on charges of money laundering related to the sale of television rights for matches involving the Brazil, national team.
Rosell, a former Nike executive in Brazil who presided over Barcelona from 2010-2014, has been accused of misappropriating money coming from the sale of TV rights for friendly matches featuring Brazil, as well as from a sponsorship contract between Nike and Brazil. He is also charged with forming part of a criminal organization.
Rosell has been in custody since his arrest nearly 21 months ago. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Police officers took Rosell’s handcuffs off inside the courtroom, but put them back on when he left for a short recess during the trial.
He did not speak before the judge on the trial’s first day but was expected to be questioned this week.
Rosell’s lawyers again called for him to be released, saying it was not fair for him to be in custody for such a long period without being convicted of any crime.
Several requests to release Rosell have been denied as judges deemed he poses a flight risk because of his connections abroad.
Defense lawyers also pointed to procedural irregularities they thought could nullify some of the evidence produced against their client, and argued the court in Madrid was not fully competent to hear the case.
Spanish prosecutors are seeking an 11-year prison sentence for Rosell, plus a fine of nearly €60 million ($68 million).
Rosell’s wife and four other individuals also have been charged in the case.
The accusations are not directly related to Rosell’s presidency at Barcelona.
Prosecutors say Rosell helped launder nearly €20 million ($22 million) related to commissions for Brazil matches during the time embattled Brazilian Football Confederation President Ricardo Teixeira was in charge.
Teixeira, a former Fifa executive committee member, was indicted by US authorities in 2015 as part of the soccer corruption scandal.
Rosell’s trial is expected to last 10 days with different sessions through March.
The 54-year-old Rosell was also involved in a case related to Neymar’s transfer from Brazilian club Santos to Barcelona in 2013. Corruptions charges have been brought after a Brazilian investment group said it received a smaller compensation because part of Neymar’s transfer fee was concealed by those involved.
Image credits: AP