Kosovo Football Federation's Complaint to UEFA
The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) has decided to take an important step after the Romania-Kosovo match in the UEFA Nations League, which caused various controversies. The match was interrupted when Kosovo players left the field due to Romanian fans chanting “Serbia”. This incident led to FFK making an official complaint to UEFA.
Development of the Event and FFK's Reaction
FFK stated in a written statement, “Insults and provocations such as chanting slogans such as ‘Kosovo is Serbia’ and ‘Serbia’ during the singing of the Kosovo national anthem and throwing hard objects onto the field were present throughout the match and created an unacceptable and unsafe atmosphere for our players.” It was emphasized that such behaviors harm not only the spirit of the sport but also the psychological state of the players.
Evidence to be Presented to UEFA
FFK announced that it has prepared a complaint, supported by evidence, to be submitted to UEFA's disciplinary bodies. The content of this complaint will allow for a detailed examination of the provocations and racist behaviour during the match. The Romanian fans' constant racist and anti-Kosovo chants led to the match being stopped. This situation is damaging not only to Kosovo football but also to the international football community.
The Place of Racism in Sports
Kosovo Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Hajrulla Çeku also condemned the incidents in a post on social media, saying, “Racism has no place in sports.” Çeku emphasized the unifying power of sports by saying, “We condemn all racism and insults against our country and call on international football institutions to take action.”
Match Results and Next Steps
This match, played in Bucharest in Group 2 of the UEFA Nations League C, was made even more tense by Romania's stance, which does not recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia, which it declared in 2008. FFK is determined to take all necessary steps to prevent such incidents from happening again. In this context, it is of great importance for UEFA to take a fair stance and protect the spirit of the sport.
International Response and Support
This incident has resonated not only in Kosovo but also around the world. Leading figures in the sports community have stressed the importance of standing against racism. It is clear that such behavior is unacceptable, especially when you consider that football is a unifying and peaceful force. Such actions against Kosovo's independence have gained wide visibility internationally.
What Will Happen As A Result?
The complaint to UEFA by the Kosovo Football Federation will be an important step towards preventing such incidents. Sports should create a unifying and friendly environment. Such racist and provocative behaviors deeply affect not only the people of Kosovo but all football fans. Kosovo will continue to defend its rights in the international arena and will take all necessary steps to prevent such incidents.
Following these events, it has become clear once again that the entire world football community must stand against racism and protect the values of sports. This determined stance of FFK is of great importance not only for the future of Kosovo but also for the entire sports world.
