Saturday, November 16, 2024

Romania v Kosovo abandoned after alleged Serbia chants

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Romania players waited on the pitch for their Kosovan counterparts to return – but they did not [EPA]

Romania’s Nations League match against Kosovo was abandoned in stoppage time after home fans allegedly shouted “Serbia”.

Kosovo players left the pitch after the chants, with the score at 0-0 with only seconds to go, and did not return to finish the game.

The referee blew the whistle more than 30 minutes later.

The Romania players had stayed out on the pitch in Bucharest’s National Arena.

The Uefa website said: “The Uefa Nations League match between Romania and Kosovo has been abandoned. Uefa will communicate further information in due course.”

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.

After the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Kosovo sought independence.

Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown against ethnic Albanians which ended in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign against Serbia.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovan independence.

The nations are always kept apart in Uefa and Fifa competitions.

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