UEFA announced on Wednesday that Kosovo had forfeited their Nations League match against Romania, which ended prematurely after the Kosovo team left the pitch in stoppage time and refused to return, citing pro-Serbia chants from the crowd.
The incident occurred last Friday in Bucharest when Kosovo players walked off the field following chants of “Serbia” by Romanian fans. The match, tied 0-0 at the time, was subsequently abandoned.
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In its ruling, UEFA held the Kosovo Football Federation accountable for the incomplete match, awarding Romania a 3-0 victory by default. This decision secured Romania’s promotion to League B as group winners, while Kosovo, finishing second, will compete in a promotion play-off.
Additionally, UEFA fined the Kosovar FA €6,000 for “improper conduct,” citing five yellow cards issued to their players during the match, matching Romania’s tally.
The Romanian Football Federation faced harsher penalties, including a €128,000 fine and an order to play their next home game behind closed doors. UEFA attributed these sanctions to “racist” chants targeting Hungary, “provocative political messages,” disruptions during the Kosovar national anthem, and other misconduct, such as throwing objects, lighting fireworks, using a laser pointer, and obstructing public passageways.
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have lingered since the conflict in the late 1990s between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents. As a result, UEFA and FIFA do not allow the two nations to compete against each other in international tournaments.
During the 2022 World Cup, FIFA launched disciplinary proceedings against Serbia after the Serbian team displayed a flag in their locker room depicting Kosovo as part of Serbia, an act that drew widespread condemnation.
Kosovo became a member of FIFA and UEFA in 2016, marking its entry into international football despite ongoing political friction in the region.
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