Romania awarded 3-0 win after Kosovo walk-off

Uefa have awarded Romania a 3-0 win after opponents Kosovo walked off the pitch in protest at alleged discriminatory chanting by the home fans during their Nations League match in Bucharest on Saturday.

But Romania have been ordered to play their next match behind closed doors for the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of their fans in relation to xenophobic anti-Hungarian chants.

The Kosovo players left the pitch at 0-0 with only seconds remaining, with the Kosovan Football Federation (FFK) later accusing the home fans of “offensive and provocative actions”, including chants of ‘Kosovo is Serbia’.

The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) said there were “no racist chants during the match”.

Uefa made no mention of Serbia in in its disciplinary decision but did fine Romania 128,000 euros (£106,000) for the chanting and other offences including disrupting the national anthem and “transmitting provocative political messages not fit for a sports event”.

This is the third time the two sides have faced disciplinary action following their matches in recent years.

Uefa fined the FRF 40,000 euros (£33,400) and ordered Romania to play their next home game behind closed doors after provocative chanting from a section of Romania fans during Euro 2024 qualifier in September 2023.

The FFK was fined 61,000 euros (£50,900) by Uefa last month for fan misconduct when the sides met in a Nations League match in September.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, following years of strained relations between its Serb and mainly Albanian inhabitants.

After the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Kosovo sought independence and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown against ethnic Albanians that ended in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign against Serbia.

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

Kosovo and Serbia are always kept apart in Uefa and Fifa competitions.