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Bojan's Serbia international switch blocked by FIFA

Bojan Krkic of Stoke City in action
Image: Bojan will have to continue to try to earn a place in the Spain squad

Stoke forward Bojan Krkic has been denied the chance to play for Serbia after FIFA rejected the Serbian Football Federation's request to transfer his international eligibility.

The 26-year-old's father is Serbian and Serbia had hoped to be able to select him for future matches.

However, FIFA has blocked the switch because he has already played a World Cup qualifying match for Spain, where he was born.

That appearance came back in 2008 when, at the age of 18, he appeared as a 65th-minute substitute in Spain's 4-0 victory over Armenia in a World Cup qualifier. 

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Bojan, who was with Barcelona at the time, has not featured for Spain since but FIFA's rules have prevented him from switching nationality for football purposes as he won his sole cap in a competitive fixture.

Bojan joined Stoke in July 2014 after a brief return to Barcelona following a spell with Roma and loan stays at Milan and Ajax.

Bojan Krkic scores from the penalty spot
Image: Bojan has scored 13 goals for Stoke City

Serbia are in World Cup European Qualifying Group D and drew their opening fixture against the Republic of Ireland 2-2 earlier this month.

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The group also includes Wales, Austria, Georgia and Moldova.

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