(foto: Getty Images)
Three key Kosovo players have been dropped by coach Franco Foda after a locker room incident. Kosovo faces Cyprus without them after a string of defeats.
Kosovo's national football team is embroiled in controversy as three important players, Arijanet Murić (Ipswich), Florent Muslija (Freiburg), and Edon Zhegrova (Lille), have been dismissed from the squad. Collectively valued at around €50 million, Zhegrova alone accounts for €25 million, representing a significant loss for the team. The trio has collectively made nearly 100 appearances for Kosovo.
The official reason cited for their exclusion is a breach of team rules, jointly established by coach Franco Foda and the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK). While future consequences for the three players are still being considered, it has been confirmed that they will not feature in upcoming matches under Foda’s management.
Kosovo is currently enduring a tough period, having lost three consecutive games to Hungary, Norway, and Romania, conceding eight goals without scoring any. The team’s next match against Cyprus presents a seemingly easier challenge, but without these key players, the outcome remains uncertain. Unofficial reports suggest tensions and conflicts among the players in the locker room contributed to the situation.
“Unofficial reports suggest tensions and conflicts among the players in the locker room contributed to the situation.”
In place of Murić, coach Foda has called up reserve goalkeeper Faton Maloku from FC Drita.