A Nations League match between Romania and Kosovo was abandoned in dramatic fashion on Friday during injury time, following offensive chants of “Serbia!” from the crowd. The game, held in Bucharest, ended with no resolution as Kosovo’s players left the pitch and did not return.
Incident Timeline
The match was paused with the score at 0-0 after the chants began. While the Romanian players remained on the field, the Kosovo team decided to leave, citing the offensive nature of the crowd’s behavior. After more than 30 minutes of waiting, the referee officially abandoned the game.
“The UEFA Nations League match between Romania and Kosovo has been abandoned. UEFA will communicate further information in due course,” announced UEFA on its website.
Historical Context
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia trace back to the late 1990s conflict, which saw Serbian forces clashing with ethnic Albanian insurgents. These tensions often spill into football, with Kosovo and Serbia prohibited from playing each other in UEFA and FIFA tournaments.
In a previous instance during the 2022 World Cup, Serbia faced disciplinary action after displaying a flag in their dressing room that portrayed Kosovo as part of Serbian territory.
Kosovo in International Football
Kosovo has been a member of FIFA and UEFA since 2016. In their last encounter, Romania defeated Kosovo 3-0 in Pristina.
UEFA is expected to review the incident and determine further actions. This episode highlights the persistent animosities in the Balkans and the challenges of maintaining sportsmanship in such high-stakes environments.