Kosovo, Romania withdraw from Serbia cheers UNL game suspended
Kosovo, Romania withdraw from Serbia cheers UNL game suspended
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During an away game against Romania, the Kosovo national soccer team left the field due to Serbia cheering from the stands, which ultimately led to the game being suspended.
On the 16th (Korean time), Kosovo played an away match against Romania in the 5th round of Group 2 of the 2024-2025 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nations League (UNL) League C at the National Stadium in Bucharest, Romania.
However, the match that day was stopped without an end as the two teams were tied 0-0.
According to Reuters, the incident occurred just before the end of a match that appeared to end in a draw.
Kosovo players left the pitch in the 48th minute of the second half and headed to the locker room after the Romanian home fans chanted "Serbia! Serbia!" during a heated argument between Kosovo captain Amir Rahmani and Romanian striker Denis Alibek.
The match was stopped and the Romanian players remained on the pitch to wait for the Kosovo players.
However, the match never resumed as the Kosovo players refused to return.
UEFA said it would "provide further information in due course." Some foreign media outlets mentioned the possibility of Kosovo being disqualified 0-3.
Kosovo gained independence from Serbia in 2008. More than 100 countries have recognized Kosovo's independence. However, Romania, which has friendly relations with Serbia, has not recognized Kosovo's independence.
"This is too much," Rahmani said at a post-match press conference 파워볼 that day. "Everyone should know that Kosovo is Kosovo. That's all."
The Romanian Football Federation was fined €52,000 (about 76 million won) by UEFA and ordered to hold its next home game behind closed doors after home fans chanted Serbian chants and displayed a banner reading "Kosovo is Serbia" during a 2024 European Championship (EURO 2024) qualifier against Kosovo at the same stadium last year.
The Kosovo Football Association was also fined 61,000 euros (approximately 90 million won) by UEFA for causing several interruptions to the UNL home game against Romania in the capital Pristina in September due to some spectators whistling and lighting flares during the playing of the opposing national anthem and storming the pitch.