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Kosovo FA hits out at Uefa after Nations League game in Romania is abandoned

The Football Federation of Kosovo said it repeatedly warned Uefa about potential provocation from Romania fans before the match in Bucharest

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The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) said it had repeatedly warned Uefa about potential provocation from Romania fans before Friday’s Nations League match, which was abandoned when Kosovo’s players walked off.

The clash between Group C2 leaders Romania and second-placed Kosovo was abandoned in stoppage time. The visiting players left the field with the score at 0-0 when they heard pro-Serbia chanting from the home fans.

The match in Bucharest was initially suspended before being abandoned when the Kosovo team refused to return to the pitch. Uefa had said it would communicate “further information 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 Kosovo 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 Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has said it was disappointed by the behaviour of the Kosovo delegation and players, describing their accusations as baseless while also saying the team’s actions were premeditated. Uefa has been contacted for comment.

“It is important to emphasise that there were no racist chants during the match, nor was the slogan ‘Kosovo is Serbia’ chanted even once,” the FRF said. “We find it regrettable that a football team would choose to leave the pitch and retreat to the locker room just two minutes before the final whistle, given that the result was not favourable to it.”

Romania players leave the field with police standing in front of home fans. Photograph: Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images

The FRF was fined by Uefa last year over pro-Serbia chanting and the display of a banner reading “Kosovo is Serbia” by supporters during a Euro 2024 qualifier between Romania and Kosovo at the National Arena.

Kosovo were also fined last month for interruptions in September’s Nations League match between the two sides in Pristina, when their fans lit and threw flares, entered the pitch and whistled during the Romanian national anthem.

After four matches in their group, Kosovo are three points behind Romania, who have 10 points and will be promoted to League B if they finish top.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognised by more than 100 countries, but not Romania.