The Daily Star Ireland
Kosovo will be included in the draw for a promotion/relegation playoff against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League next year, following UEFA’s decision to sanction both Romania and Kosovo after their match in Bucharest last Friday. The match was abandoned after Kosovo’s players walked off the pitch in the final minute, citing racist chants from the Romanian supporters. The game had been tied 0-0, and after a delay of over an hour, the referee declared the match abandoned.
Without a final score, Romania remained at the top of the group, three points ahead of Kosovo, with a better goal difference. It would have taken an extremely unlikely scenario, such as a points deduction for Romania, for them to lose the top spot. Initially, UEFA had refrained from confirming Romania as group winners and Kosovo as runners-up, stating “Permutations to follow for Kosovo and Romania.”
Today, UEFA’s disciplinary committee ruled that Kosovo had forfeited the match by not completing it, awarding a 3-0 victory to Romania. As a result, Kosovo finishes second in the group, six points behind Romania, and will be part of the draw, along with Slovakia, Armenia, and Bulgaria, to face four teams from League B, including Ireland, for the playoff.
Romania was also penalized, receiving a €125,000 fine and a ban on hosting their next home game with spectators, following findings that their fans engaged in racist and discriminatory behavior during the match.
