Kosovo’s national football team abandoned their Nations League match against Romania on Friday after anti-Albanian chants erupted from the home crowd. The game at Bucharest’s National Arena ended prematurely with the score at 0-0, following heated exchanges on the pitch and in the stands.
The trouble began late in the match when a scuffle broke out between players from both teams. Romanian fans joined in by chanting “Serbia, Serbia,” sparking outrage among the visiting side. In protest, Kosovo captain Amir Rrahmani led his team off the field, refusing to continue the game.
Kosovo’s football federation has condemned the incident, calling on UEFA to take strong action against the discriminatory behaviour. Romania’s football authorities have yet to respond publicly.
UEFA has announced an investigation into the events, with potential disciplinary actions pending. The incident has reignited discussions on combating racism and xenophobia in football.
