Romania and Kosovo face disciplinary action from UEFA over abandoned match

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, after years of tense relations between its Serbian and mainly Albanian inhabitants.

After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Kosovo sought independence and Serbia responded with a brutal repression against ethnic Albanians that ended in 1999 after a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia.

Kosovo’s independence is recognized by 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, but not by Romania and Serbia.

Kosovo and Serbia are always kept separate in UEFA and FIFA competitions.

The FFK claimed that its players faced “offensive and provocative actions” throughout the match, including chants of “Kosovo is Serbia”, whistling during the national anthem and throwing objects.

He said this created an “unacceptable and unsafe atmosphere for our players.”

The FFK also stated that it had warned UEFA about “the possibility of such actions” by Romanian fans.

The FRF insisted that “Kosovo is Serbia” was not chanted at all.

BBC Sport has contacted UEFA for comment on these claims from both federations.

A qualifying match for Euro 2024 between both teams held in September 2023 in Bucharest was suspended for 50 minutes after provocative chants from some of the Romanian fans.

UEFA fined the FRF €40,000 (£33,400) and ordered Romania to play their next home match behind closed doors.

The Kosovo Football Federation was fined 61,000 euros (£50,900) by UEFA last month for fan misconduct when its national team hosted Romania in a Nations League match in September.

The match was interrupted several times when fans set off flares, invaded the pitch and whistled during the Romanian national anthem.