Kosovo is preparing to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after UEFA awarded them a 3-0 defeat for abandoning their Nations League fixture against Romania last Friday. The match, held in Bucharest, was halted during stoppage time when Kosovo players walked off the field in response to continuous “Serbia” chants from the Romanian crowd.
UEFA’s decision to call the match a forfeit sparked controversy, with the governing body ruling that Kosovo’s refusal to return to the pitch resulted in the loss. The chants referenced Serbia’s claim over Kosovo, a highly sensitive and politically charged issue. Kosovo’s team manager, Bajram Shala, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, stating that the emotional toll on the players was significant and should be considered.
Kosovo plans to appeal to CAS after UEFA rules their Nations League match against Romania as a forfeit
“Our players felt personally attacked by the chants, and we were forced to leave the pitch as a stand against racism,” Shala told The Guardian.
Romania was fined €128,000 and ordered to play their next home match behind closed doors due to the chants and other crowd misconduct, including object throwing and the use of fireworks. The Romanian Football Federation, however, accused Kosovo of acting provocatively and premeditating the walk-off.
This is not the first incident involving anti-Kosovo sentiments during Romanian matches, as similar behavior led to a UEFA fine during last year’s Euro 2024 qualifiers. Kosovo is determined to appeal UEFA’s ruling, seeking justice for their players who felt their dignity was harmed by the chants.
