Romania awarded 3-0 Nations League win over Kosovo

Romania have been awarded a 3-0 Nations League win over Kosovo after the abandonment of their Nations League match in Bucharest on Friday.

Uefa took the decision after Kosovo players left the pitch with just seconds remaining last week, claiming the home fans were shouting “Serbia”. The contest had been goalless.

Romania have been given the win but have been ordered to play their first home game in a World Cup qualifying group next year in an empty stadium. That was punishment for chants by Romanian fans targeting neighboring Hungary.

Uefa also fined the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) a total of 128,000 euros (£106,000) for a range of charges relating to “xenophobic anti-Hungarian chants,” “provocative political messages not fit for a sports event,” and disturbing the national anthems.

Last year, the FRF was fined by Uefa for pro-Serbia chanting and the display of a banner reading “Kosovo is Serbia” by supporters during a Euro 2024 qualifier between Romania and Kosovo.

In February 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia after years of strained relations between the country’s Serb and Albanian inhabitants.

Kosovo’s independence is recognised by 100 countries but not by Romania and Serbia.

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