Kosovo raises questions to UEFA after unruly fracas at Romania in their recently-concluded Nations League fixture.
Kosovo FA hits out at Uefa after Nations League game in Romania is abandoned.
Prior to Friday’s Nations League encounter, which was called off when Kosovo’s players left. The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) claimed to have alerted Uefa several times of possible provocation from Romanian supporters.
In stoppage time, the match between second-place Kosovo and Group C2 leaders Romania was called off. When the home crowd began screaming pro-Serbia, the visiting players exited the pitch with the score at 0-0.
After being suspended at first. The game in Bucharest was called off when the Kosovo team refused to return to the field. Uefa has promised to provide “more details in due course.”
In a statement, FFK said. “Cries such as ‘Kosovo is Serbia’ and ‘Serbia, Serbia’, whistling during the singing of the national anthem of Kosovo, throwing hard objects. And other offensive and provocative actions were present throughout the match, creating an unacceptable atmosphere not safe for our players.”
“FFK had warned the relevant Uefa bodies more than twice in writing about the possibility of such actions, once a few days before the match and then a few minutes before it started,” the statement added.
“Despite these warnings, the Romanian fans continued with irresponsible and discriminatory behaviour, forcing the Kosovan national team to leave the field due to the lack of safety and dignity.” The FFK also alleged that a Romania official “threatened and assaulted” a Kosovo player in the corridors of the stadium.
“For all these serious violations, FFK has immediately reported the incidents to the match delegate and has started preparing a full complaint with facts and evidence that will be submitted to Uefa’s disciplinary bodies,” it added.
The Kosovoan delegation and players’ conduct disappointed the Romanian Football Federation (FRF). They called the team’s actions premeditated and characterised their complaints as unfounded. We’ve reached out to Uefa for comment.
Uefa punished the FRF last year for pro-Serbia shouting and supporters holding a banner that read “Kosovo is Serbia” during a Romania vs. Kosovo Euro 2024 qualifier at the National Arena.
Additionally, Kosovo was penalised last month for disrupting the September Nations League match between the two teams in Pristina by having supporters enter the pitch, light flares and whistle during the Romanian national anthem.
Kosovo is now three points behind Romania. Who have ten points after four games in their group and will advance to League B if they win.
More than 100 nations have acknowledged Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia, but Romania has not.