Kosovo took a huge step towards Fifa membership yesterday when the world soccer’s governing body said its 208 member countries could start playing friendly internationals against teams from the Balkan province.

Fifa and Uefa had previously blocked Kosovo’s attempts to play internationals because it was not recognised by the United Nations.

However, Fifa president Sepp Blatter urged his executive committee to approve the change at its meeting on Monday and said when the announcement was made yesterday that he hoped this accelerated Kosovo’s drive to full membership of the organisation.

Not everyone was happy with the decision and the Serbian Football Association (FSS) lodged a sharp protest with Fifa.

The ruling means that the 90 members of the UN who recognise Kosovo as an independent state can now play them.

After nine years as a ward of the United Nations, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.