România risk drastic sanctions following the incidents caused by the ultras of the “Uniți Sub Tricolor” group in the first half of the match against Kosovo in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The radical ultras chanted “Kosovo is Serbia” and displayed a banner with the same slogan.
What Romania risks after the incidents in the match against Kosovo
The national team and the Romanian Football Federation are facing major problems caused by nationalist groups. The ultras from “Uniți Sub Tricolor” caused trouble during the first half of the match against Kosovo in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. In the away match in Pristina, the same ultras were expelled after chanting “Kosovo is Serbia”.
The match at the National Arena was interrupted and even the players went to discuss with the ultras. Ultimately, the referee sent both teams to the locker rooms. Romania is a repeat offender, and as a result, the Romanian Football Federation risks drastic sanctions from UEFA.
The continental body does not tolerate any form of politically-oriented slogans. Therefore, besides a fine, Romania may also have their field suspended. In the Euro 2024 qualifiers, the “tricolors” still have to play at home against Andorra and Switzerland.
“Uniți Sub Tricolor”, the national team’s major problem
The nationalist group “Uniți Sub Tricolor” has caused major headaches for the Romanian Football Federation over time. In the match against Belarus in March, the ultras had xenophobic chants directed at Hungary and lit torches in the stands, leading to a fine of 20,000 euros for the FRF.
Moreover, the punishment was accompanied by the partial closure of the stadium during the match at the National Arena against Israel. The governing body of Romanian football was forced to close several sections totaling 2,000 seats.
In the away match against Kosovo in Pristina, the hosts booed the Romanian national anthem, and the response from the “Uniți Sub Tricolor” group did not hesitate to appear. The group members chanted “Kosovo is Serbia” and were violently ejected by the security forces. Additionally, the Romanian ultras smuggled pyrotechnic materials into the stadium.
Romania does not recognize Kosovo as a state
Romania does not recognize Kosovo as a state, who declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. However, UEFA does not allow affiliated national teams to refuse playing matches against Kosovo.
Andrei Preda, the leader of Peluza Sud 1997, was one of the protagonists of the incidents at the National Arena, according to gsp.ro. “Honor et Patria,” another nationalist group, announced at the beginning of the week that they would not be present at the match against Kosovo.
The ultras from “Uniți Sub Tricolor” were booed by the rest of the supporters at the National Arena. Upon their return from the locker rooms, the spectators chanted: “Romania, Romania!”
