Kosovo avoid Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup qualifying draw

UEFA has placed Kosovo in World Cup qualifying Group I after ruling that its newest member could not play against Bosnia-Herzegovina for security reasons.

European football's governing body says Kosovo must go in the originally drawn five-team group that includes Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Turkey and Finland.

Kosovo and Gibraltar were both accepted as FIFA members last month and had to be found places in the World Cup qualifying program that kicks off in September.

Gibraltar will join five other teams in Group H - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus and Estonia.

All nine European qualifying groups now include six teams.

UEFA confirmed that its emergency panel ruled that Serbian teams should also not play teams from Kosovo in future competitions.

Serbia does not recognise the statehood of Kosovo, its former province which declared independence in 2008.

Clubs from the Balkan republic will have to wait at least a year to make their debut in European competitions after failing to comply with UEFA licensing and spending regulations in time to play next season.

Kosovo had hoped champions FK Feronikeli and cup winners FC Prishtina would enter the first qualifying rounds of the Champions League and the Europa League respectively.