Tefik Osmani “lashes out” at procedures: “Why was a solution found for Albion Rrahmani, while Albanian talents are left waiting?”
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
A strong debate has emerged over the procedures for granting Albanian citizenship to footballers with the potential to represent Albania.
The issue was highlighted in a post by Tefik Osmani, head of scouting at the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF), who publicly addressed President Bajram Begaj, seeking answers about how procedures are being handled for talents hoping to wear the red-and-black jersey.
Osmani says that the AFF has submitted documentation for around 10 highly promising male and female footballers, but the procedures have been put on hold due to legal changes and a Council of Ministers decision (VKM).
In his post, Osmani also referred to the case of Albion Rrahmani, questioning why procedures can be expedited in certain cases, while talents who want to represent Albania are left waiting.
“We at the AFF are fully in favor of players of Kosova obtaining Albanian passports. In fact, we have worked and reached an agreement with Italy precisely so that Albanian players would not be considered non-EU players,” Osmani wrote.
But he then raises the question that demands an answer:
“How is it possible for the procedures for a player of the Kosovo national team, such as Albion Rrahmani, to move forward and be completed, while the documentation of the male and female players whom the AFF is trying to bring into Albania’s national teams remains permanently on hold?”
Osmani emphasizes that this is not about opposing players from Kosovo, but rather about asking for the same standards and the same speed to be applied to talents who could represent Albania.
According to him, administrative delays can have direct consequences for young players, as they are at a certain age and have a national-team development cycle that cannot wait indefinitely.
“We risk something much bigger than a delayed file: we risk losing talents that Albania has identified, followed and wants,” Tefik Osmani wrote.
“KORÇA BOOM”
