UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin praised the joint bid by Albania and Serbia to host the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, calling it a testament to sport’s ability to bridge political divides.
In an interview with Slovenian newspaper Delo, Ceferin, who is of Slovenian descent, spoke about political developments in football and international cooperation, highlighting the role of sport in uniting nations.
“I have a special love for all the countries of the former Yugoslavia. The last decades have been very sad. But the entire Western Balkans is a time bomb. The main problem is that the leaders of these countries talk to European bureaucrats who do not understand the mentality of the Balkans, the former Yugoslavia, Albania, and other countries,” Ceferin said.
He commended the collaboration between the Albanian and Serbian football federations, backed by their respective governments, as an example of football transcending political tensions.
“It is interesting that the football federations of Albania and Serbia, supported by the governments of the two countries, have expressed their desire to organize this competition together. This is another proof that sport is above politics. Sports are a good thing. It is an excellent opportunity to show that football is above everyday politics,” Ceferin stated.
A Delo journalist described the cooperation as breaking long-standing taboos, noting that such an agreement would be unthinkable in the political sphere.
Ceferin reiterated his belief that football can build bridges where politics often falls short.