Institutional scandal by the KOC against the FFK, Ademi demands accountability

The Kosovo Olympic Committee’s failure to notify the Football Federation of Kosovo in time about participation in the “Taranto 2026” Mediterranean Games with the U19 girls’ and boys’ national teams has sparked a major clash between the two sports institutions.

According to reports, the invitation to participate in this prestigious event was sent by the Italian Football Federation to the KOC on behalf of the FFK. However, the KOC did not forward the invitation in time, creating a surprising and unprecedented situation.

How is it possible for an institution like the KOC to make such an oversight?! This case deserves every criticism and sanction. Who could prevent our youth, especially footballers, from appearing on the international stage? Does someone think they are the owner or boss of the institution?

Are the KOC’s leaders there to promote and protect sport, or to obstruct it? Or perhaps jealousy and resentment toward football’s popularity are getting in someone’s way? In any case, someone must be held accountable for this, as it cannot be allowed to pass in silence. The head of Kosovo football is also rightly demanding that someone take responsibility for this KOC “blunder.”

At the FFK, this case has been described as unacceptable and concerning, raising serious questions about how sports institutions in the country communicate with one another. FFK President Agim Ademi considers this a harmful act for sport and the development of youth football.

“This is an unacceptable and incomprehensible act that directly harms young athletes and their development. Such a selective approach does not serve sport or Kosovo’s interests,” Ademi said.

According to him, this happens only when someone does not care about sport and lacks the knowledge and sense of responsibility.
“It is truly incomprehensible and astonishing; I would never have thought that sports institutions themselves would deprive developing athletes of what is rightfully theirs.

Asked how this could have happened when the FFK has its own representative on the KOC executive board, he said: “This is precisely what shows a senseless cover-up, because this matter, even if it had not been at the KOC for months, should have been communicated by phone or email, and the material should have been sent so that the FFK, as an institution, could be informed. I have served twice as KOC vice-president and as a member for two or more terms, and even under the difficult conditions in which we worked at the time, things like this never happened.”
Asked what the FFK’s position toward the KOC would be, he stressed: “I believe the KOC is obliged to officially explain this mistake and someone must be held accountable, as well as apologize to the young female and male footballers who were deprived of their right and opportunity to participate in the Mediterranean Games,” Ademi added.

This case rightly opens up a broader debate about the dysfunction and lack of coordination between institutions in Kosovo sport, particularly when it comes to young people representing the country internationally.
This should serve as an alarm bell to improve institutional cooperation, so that similar cases are not repeated and Kosovo’s young athletes are not harmed by resentments and perhaps even personal issues.

The “Taranto 2026” Mediterranean Games begin on August 21 and run until September 3, 2026.