Frame der Nation durch Sport: Der Fall Kosovo.

This paper examines Kosovar football in the context of national identity, with the designation of the national team causing much debate in the country. It aims to use lexical frame analysis to examine the impact of specific frames and argumentation patterns on the use and meaning of the terms kombëtar(e) (Engl. national) and përfaqësuese (Engl. representation) in relation to the designation of the Kosovar football team. The incipient discussion on the nation has gained particular intensity since Kosovo's admission as an equal member of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), both in 2016. Whether Kosovo has a "national football team" or only a "representation of Kosovo" continues to polarise public discourse. Previous studies have confirmed that the relationship between sport and national identity is complex and multifaceted. This article will delve into the complexity and diversity of the discussion in the case of Kosovo with potential ramifications for the national political discourse in the youngest European nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]