So many young people around the world dream of roles in football only to move on to new things once they stop playing (that was me). Some find a way to stay involved. Besart Osmani is one of these people.
After reaching the first team at KF Liria - one of Kosovo’s oldest clubs and his hometown team - Besart walked away from playing to attend university in the capital. But five years later and back in Prizren, the itch to return to football was too strong to ignore! He found his way back into the game through refereeing. Now, 13 years on, he’s still at it, officiating professional matches across Kosovo.
In addition to his career as a referee, Besart shares anecdotes from his playing days, his work at the FA and a glimpse into football in Kosovo - how it’s changed since becoming the newest UEFA and FIFA member in 2016, and the massive potential (and challenges) that Kosovo still has.
The interview has been condensed and lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
[ Background ]
I come from a family that is very involved with sports. My father was a player and now he's a coach. He’s been engaged in football in my city - Prizren - for over 45 years - 16 years as a player and more than 35 as a trainer. My uncle was a professional basketball player in the ‘80s and ‘90s. I was a footballer too, I started playing in my local club when I was 10 years old and progressed each year until I made it to the first team. The club was KF Liria, one of the oldest clubs in Kosovo.
I played for a year in the first team before I decided to leave football and study. It was one of the hard decisions I had to make but at that time, I saw my studies as more important than playing football. At that time in Kosovo - around 2004 or 2005, the league wasn’t so strong, football wasn’t so profitable. So, I moved to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo to study computer engineering - where I did my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
After I finished my studies I came back to Prizren and found a job here. But something inside me told me that I have to continue with sports, with football. It was too late to go back as a player, I’d been ‘away’ too long but I decided to continue my career as a referee.
I started in 2011, first I was in the local, regional leagues. And then every 2-3 years, I advanced. From the regional leagues, I passed into the national leagues, the Second League and the First League (2nd tier) - where I still am. I don’t have any intention to move to the Super League. I’m 36 now and I think it’s too late for me, and I always referee, not to profit or anything but because it is my hobby - and I didn’t want to be out of football!
"something inside me told me that I have to continue with sports, with football"
[ Why did you want to become a referee? What was the process? ]
My father is a very famous trainer in Prizren, he knows a lot of people and he helped me a lot. He recommended I go visit the chairman of the regional league and ask about becoming a referee.
The chairman was happy because I’d been a player for ~15 years, so I should know the rules! He connected me with the referee association in my city and took some lessons for a few weeks about the rules of football and how to referee. Then one day, he called me and said, ‘are you ready to have your first match as a referee?’
The first match was an U15’s match - of my father’s team! - against another local team, so a kind of derby match. I can still remember the match - of course, I was neutral - I did a good job, both teams thanked me after the game. It was a good start!
I continued going to lessons and workshops and learning more about refereeing. And every week, they gave me another match. In the beginning, I was the main referee but as I advanced, I became an assistant referee - I think I can contribute more in this role.
[ Do you travel around Kosovo for matches or are you always in Prizren/nearby? ]
For the professional leagues - in Kosovo that’s the First League and the Super League, I travel for matches. I’m a ‘category 2’ referee (first league), which is required for the professional leagues.
This weekend, I had a match in Pristina for example. It’s fun because I have my regular work Monday to Friday and then on Saturday and Sunday, I’m always on the field. Usually, Saturday is the national leagues and Sunday, I might do a regional league game, but it varies a little each week.
[ Do you work with the same crew of referees or does it change? ]
It changes every week. In Kosovo, the federation does a draw each week for each game. We all know each other from workshops or working matches together but it’s not the same ‘team’ each week.
[ You’ve done a variety of things in football - why are you planning to move on from refereeing? ]
Now I’ve been a referee for more than 13 years. Football has opened a lot of doors for me. In 2017, I started working with the Football Federation of Kosovo on a platform called FIFA Connect. I manage all the teams from my region, everything from all the transfers and player registrations to the fines (e.g. for red cards). I’m in touch with a lot of teams in Prizren, they call me to make sure a player is ready to play in a match for example.
I’ve also done a lot of training in football management. Recently, I finished one with UEFA - the Certificate of Football Management. When I leave refereeing, maybe in the next few years, maybe with my professional background I can be a sort of director or advisor for a football club.
As a referee, you have to sacrifice a lot of time with your family. I work a normal day - my ‘primary job’ is at the City Library, there is an education center called the American Corner, run by the US Embassy. When I come home, I have to run to be prepared for the matches! I think I’ve contributed a lot but maybe next season will be the last one for me.
I’ll still focus on my work with the federation of course and helping them with the digital platforms. I have a few offers from clubs to help them organize as well, so I’ll stay in the game.
[ Kosovo only became FIFA and UEFA members in 2016, but seem to be improving rapidly, what has changed in recent years - maybe compared to when you were playing? ]
Kosovo has changed a lot. I think we are a good example of how fast things can move forward. There is a word in Kosovo that Kosovo is a ‘small Brazil’ in the Balkans. There have always been lots of talented players here!
In 2016, the president of the football federation, Fadil Vokrri, worked a lot - a lot - to make Kosovo a part of UEFA, and some months later, FIFA also accepted us. Vokrri was one of the best players in the ex-Yugoslavia, an icon. After he passed away, Agim Ademi, the new president has continued his work and football in Kosovo has moved forward very fast.
I think in digitalization, Kosovo is ahead of the other countries in the Balkans. We will even get VAR - no one can believe that Kosovo will have the VAR system!
The digital infrastructure is very good - and we are getting a new platform that will be even better than FIFA Connect. Next season we will change - we’ll have the same platform as e.g. Saudi Arabia. Kosovo has already moved quickly up the rankings, maybe 20 or 30 places in the last few years. If we continue like that, I’m sure Kosovo can have one of the best teams in Europe!
Young people in Kosovo love football. If you come here, you’ll see young people playing football in the streets everywhere. There are also a lot of school programs to implement football and competition in school. Women’s football is also growing, they’ve established 3 leagues recently.
"I think in digitalization, Kosovo is ahead of the other countries in the Balkans. We will even get VAR - no one can believe that Kosovo will have the VAR system!"
[ What are some of the biggest challenges that Kosovar football still faces? ]
I think migration is the main challenge. We are doing our best to keep young people here for a long time but unfortunately, many families and young people are moving abroad to other countries because they want a better life. This is a challenge that is not just happening in football but in all life in Kosovo.
Things also need to change politically. Sometimes politicians want to get involved in sports. The federation is one of the biggest organizations in Kosovo, they employ more than 2,000 people - referees, observers, workers, etc - and sometimes politics causes interruptions.
Now, we’ve invested a lot in football, a lot in stadiums. The federation has a program where they build a new field every 40 days. In Prizren, they’ve built 6 new fields! We want young people to have the best conditions and have programs and options to motivate young people, families and parents to please stay in Kosovo.
—^interviewer’s note: Kosovo’s population has decreased almost 10% since 2011
[ You mentioned potentially being a director or manager at a football club, what kind of role and impact are you looking for in the next chapter of your football career? ]
I'm not sure if I will be in a club, but I would like to make a contribution to the teams in my city. Especially my team KF Liria. The last time they were champions in Kosovo was 1994 - my father was the coach. Now, the team is having some problems in the management, they were even relegated to the First League. I think I can make a good contribution to a team like this.
The big problem with a lot of clubs in Kosovo is they don’t have strategic long term plans. Everything is for the short term results. Many clubs get sponsors or invest a lot of money in the first team, sometimes it works for a year or two but then they go down again! So, I think I can contribute somewhere here. Maybe as a kind of director, maybe as an advisor but I want to use my background to help.
Who would have thought, a computer engineer involved in football? I could earn more money if I worked in my profession but my love of football doesn’t let me, so I’ll continue working with football!