September 13, (THEWILL) – The Euro 2024 qualifier between Romania and Kosovo was halted for about an hour on Tuesday evening, following offensive chants from Romanian supporters.
The match in Bucharest was stopped in the 18th minute when a section of the home crowd repeatedly shouted “Serbia Serbia”, and a player remonstrated with spectators displaying a banner proclaiming “Kosovo is Serbia”. The referee then took the decision to send both sets of players back to the dressing rooms.
“The match has resumed after the interruption due to discriminatory behaviour from certain fans,” UEFA stated on their website after a 50-minute delay. THEWILL recalls that Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognised by over 100 nations, but not by Serbia itself.
The provocative chants and banners highlighted political tensions between the two countries that spilled over into the sporting arena. UEFA officials will likely investigate the incidents. However, both teams will have been relieved to get the match completed with no further issues. Romania ran out 2-0 winners.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
