KOSOVO fans held up English flags during the national anthem in an emotional display of unity before Sunday’s Euro 2020 qualifier.
As God Save The Queen began in Pristina, the packed Fadil Vokrri Stadium showed placards bearing the St George’s Cross.
Kosovan supporters made a display of unity on SundayCredit: Reuters
With Group A settled, the match was billed as a feel-good moment for the hostsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It was just the latest effort made by Kosovans as part of their welcome this weekend.
A banner reading “Welcome & Respect” was one of many put up by local FA bosses, featuring poppies in respect for soldiers who have given their lives.
Raheem Sterling featured in one such poster put up around the city, alongside a caption reading “Welcome Brother” following racist abuse directed at the England winger in Bulgaria.
On Sunday, fans switched their cards around for the hosts’ anthem to show the Kosovo flag.
English troops were among the NATO forces deployed in the region during the Kosovo War in the late 1990s.
Yugoslav forces and buildings were targeted by bombing runs conducted by, among others, British, American and French pilots to end ethnic cleansing conducted by Slobodan Milosevic’s forces.
One banner read: “When we were experiencing the genocide and rape of women, you raised our hopes for freedom.”
Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and the nation of 1.8 million was accepted into FIFA and UEFA in 2016.
In their first official attempt at qualifying for a major tournament, Bernard Challandes’ side claimed third in Group A with their chance to reach Euro 2020 coming in the spring’s play-offs.
When was the Kosovo War?
The Kosovo War took place between March 1998 and June 1999.
However, the dispute over Kosovo is centuries-old.
Kosovo is a landlocked, mainly ethnic Albanian territory that was formerly a province in Serbia.
Eight years after the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe, ethnic Albanian rebels launched a rebellion in 1998 to rid the country of Serbian rule.
The conflict between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo left more than 10,000 dead.
Serbia’s brutal and bloody crackdown against separatists and civilians in Kosovo prompted NATO airstrikes from March to June 1999, to stop the ethnic cleansing of its Albanian population.
Serbia lost control of Kosovo in 1999, after NATO’s campaign, ceding control to international peacekeepers.
In 2008, Kosovo declared independence. The US and most of the West recognise it, but Russia and China do not.
Watch the heartwarming moment Raheem Sterling gives young England fan his boots after scoring in win over Kosovo
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
