Montenegro’s football association has sacked their Serbian manager after he refused to lead the national side out for a European Championship qualifier against Kosovo.

Ljubisa Tumbakovic, 66, was fired on Saturday after reportedly coming under pressure from Serbian authorities.

Belgrade does not recognise Kosovo, a disputed territory since the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia which broke away from Serbia in 2008, as independent.

Two of Montenegro’s Serbian-born players, Filip Stojkovic and Mirko Ivanic, also pulled out of the Euro 2020 match in Podgorica.

Montenegro's football federation (FSCG) said the two footballers, who play in Serbia for club side Red Star Belgrade, had come under “pressure from certain circles”.

Mr Tumbakovic’s decision to boycott the match was “an unpleasant surprise”, the FSCG said. The coach, who had managed Montenegro since January 2016, won six league title and three cups during two spells with Partizan Belgrade.

"Things which have nothing to do with sports have defeated sports and football on this occasion," the FSCG said.

"The executive board made a unanimous decision to relieve Tumbakovic of his duties after he decided not to be in charge of the national team for the match,” the federation said in a statement.

"Apart from being an unpleasant surprise, Tumbakovic's move also constitutes a breach of his professional duties stipulated by his contract."