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Kosovo football great Fadil Vokrri dies at 57

Published Jun. 9, 2018 11:43 a.m. ET

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PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Fadil Vokrri, the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo and a former Yugoslavia international, died of a heart attack on Saturday. He was 57.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci declared Sunday a day of mourning ''as a sign of state and civic respect.'' State flags will be at half-staff.

''Kosovo football has lost its greatest legend,'' Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said.

''Fadil was a distinguished personality in sports not only in Kosovo but also in the international arena, turning into an example how to work to achieve successes.''

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin expressed deep sympathy, adding Vokrri was ''the key figure in Kosovo's football development which led to the Football Federation of Kosovo becoming a member of UEFA in 2016.''

''We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Fadil Vokrri.''

Vokrri became the first post-independence president of the Kosovo federation in 2008, and was re-elected twice. He led Kosovo to membership of UEFA and FIFA.

Vokrri played for Yugoslavia from 1984-87, scoring six times in 12 matches, and was voted Yugoslavia's best player in 1987.

The federation said Vokrri was at a fitness center when he had a heart attack.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

The funeral ceremony will be on Sunday.

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Follow Llazar Semini on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lsemini

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