UEFA expels TV broadcaster from European Championships event
UEFA takes action: A journalist from Kosovo loses EURO championship credentials due to a gesture. The incident occurred during the match against England on Sunday, and Serbia's Football Federation reported it to the UEFA, demanding action.
In response to a query from dpa, the UEFA confirmed in the afternoon that an journalist had been stripped of their EURO accreditation for misconduct. The specific person and their nationality were not disclosed by the UEFA.
Earlier, the Swiss newspaper "Blick" reported on the incident. "It sets a dangerous precedent," Sadiku told the paper. "I didn't offend or agitate anyone. I was simply expressing pride in the symbol that represents us."
The double-eagle is a symbol of ethnic Albanian homeland attachment and is also featured on the Albanian national flag. The gesture caused controversy during the 2018 World Cup, as well, when Swiss national players Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri showed it after scoring goals in a 2:1 win against Serbia.
Serbia considers withdrawal
According to various media reports, the Serbian Football Federation reported the incident during the match at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on the previous Sunday to the UEFA, demanding consequences. The reporters were responding to anti-Kosovo chants from the Serbian fans.
The UEFA's expulsion of the journalist came shortly after Serbia lodged a complaint about alleged hostile chants from Croatian and Albanian fans and even threatened to withdraw from the tournament. "We demand sanctions from the UEFA, and if necessary, we may not continue with the EURO championship," said Jovan Surbatovic, the general secretary of the Serbian Football Federation. He referred to alleged hostile chants from both fan bases during the second half of the 2:2 match between Croatia and Albania at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on the previous Wednesday night.
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The controversy surrounding the EUFA's expulsion of a journalist from Kosovo during the European Football Championship 2024 has sparked concerns about freedom of the press. Serbia, in response to alleged hostile chants from Croatian and Albanian fans, threatened to withdraw from the tournament if UEFA does not impose sanctions. Various European media outlets have covered these developments, highlighting the tension between Kosovo, Serbia, and Albania in the context of European football.
