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FIFA joy for Kosovo and Gibraltar

Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura is introduced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Image: Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura is introduced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino

As well as a new secretary general, FIFA also added two member associations to its ranks on Friday: Kosovo and Gibraltar.

They become the 210th and 211th members of the football family and can start their preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament.

There invitation to join FIFA comes on the day the governing body unveiled Fatama Samoura - a Senegalese United Nations official - as its first female and first non-European secretary general  

The huge majorities Kosovo and Gibraltar received for their inclusion - 86 per cent and 93 per cent respectively - represent huge victories for the pair, particularly given the strong opposition they have faced from more powerful neighbours.

Spain has strongly opposed Gibraltar's progress towards FIFA membership, forcing the British overseas territory to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to move the process along.

Kosovo's elevation to independent football nation status, meanwhile, has been fought all the way by Serbia.

Gibraltar could enter the qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup
Image: Gibraltar could now enter the qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup

At UEFA's congress in Budapest last week, Kosovo's bid for membership was only narrowly approved by 28 votes to 24, and the vice-president of Serbia's FA spoke out against Kosovo's admission to FIFA from the floor in Mexico City.

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But his calls were ignored, prompting an emotional Kosovo FA president Fadil Vokrri to say: "The players and people of Kosovo have been waiting for this for a long time - thank you."

Those votes brought the business of FIFA's 66th annual congress to a close, leaving the stage to Infantino to send everybody home with smiles on their faces.

"The crisis is over," he said. "We can look forward to a bright future."

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