Source: REUTERS/GEORGE CALIN
[Saba Sports News] In the European Championship
qualifiers, Romania emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Kosovo. However, the
match was disrupted when Kosovo players went on strike in response to what they
perceived as “riots” by Romanian home fans. The game was interrupted
for approximately 50 minutes. Reports indicate that Romanian fans chanted
slogans such as “Kosovo belongs to Serbia” which provoked the
visiting team. Despite efforts by the on-site broadcasters to appeal for
rational behaviour and to discourage actions that angered the Kosovo players,
their pleas had minimal impact. In the 18th minute of the game, Kosovo players
collectively walked off the field in protest. Following the referee’s attempts
at resolving the situation, the match eventually resumed. However, the
atmosphere remained highly charged, resulting in frequent fouls. In total, the
referee issued nine yellow cards and one red card throughout the game.