UEFA has sanctioned the Romanian soccer federation (FRF) over pro-Serbia chants by supporters during a Euro 2024 qualifier against Kosovo, European soccer’s governing body said on Wednesday.
The Sept. 12 match in Bucharest was suspended for almost an hour after some home fans chanted, „Serbia Serbia” and held up a banner saying ‘Kosovo is Serbia’. Romania won 2-0.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and won recognition from dozens of countries, but not Romania.
UEFA fined the FRF 52,000 euros on Wednesday and ordered Romania’s next home game, a Euro qualifier against Andorra on October 15 in Bucharest, to be played without fans.
There was no immediate reaction from Romanian football officials. Kosovo’s football federation, however, said the punishment was too light.
In Serbia, the reaction was the opposite. „Shock! Fans banned over ‘Kosovo is Serbia’ – UEFA is merciless,” wrote Serbian publication Espreso, calling the decision „draconian”.
