Romania Wins 3-0 After Kosovars Abandoned UEFA Nations League Match

The UEFA Nations League match between Romania and Kosovo on November 15, 2024, was controversial as Kosovo’s players abandoned the game during stoppage time.

There was a heated confrontation between players, notably involving Kosovo Territory’s captain Amir Rrahmani and Romanian striker Denis Alibec. The scoreless match, then, saw tensions escalate when Romanian fans began chanting “Serbia! Serbia!”.

As the situation intensified, the Danish referee Morten Krogh suspended the match before abandoning it when the Kosovo territory team refused to return to the field.

On Wednesday, November 20, Romania was declared the winner by a score of 3-0, according to UEFA regulations for abandoned matches. Romania had already secured first place in their group before this match and needed only a point to confirm their promotion to League B.

The Romanian Football Federation expressed appreciation for its fans’ behaviour during the match despite the provocations from the visiting team. The UEFA Disciplinary Committee also sanctioned Romania’s Football Federation, considering its supporters’ chanting “Serbia” racist.

This incident underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding the artificial territory of Kosovo’s status, as this territory of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that remains unrecognized by Romania.