FOOTBALL – UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE 2025 [1]
THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT DISMISSES AN APPEAL BY THE FOOTBALL FEDERATION OF KOSOVO AGAINST THE ROMANIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION AND UEFA
Lausanne, 5 May 2025 - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal by the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) against the Romanian Football Federation (RFF) and UEFA concerning the forfeiture of a UEFA Nations League match by the FFK on 15 November 2024.
The UEFA Appeals Body decided (“The Challenged Decision”) that a 2025 UEFA Nations League match between Kosovo and Romanian national teams was forfeited by the FFK, as players of the Kosovo national team left the pitch due to chants by Romanian supporters. The FFK appealed to CAS against this decision and requested that UEFA hold the RFF responsible for the forfeiture and annul a fine issued by UEFA of 6’000 EUR.
An in-person hearing took place at CAS headquarters in Lausanne on 24 March 2025. The Panel examined the evidence and concluded that the Kosovo players took a unilateral decision to leave the pitch in the absence of a valid direction by the referee and were responsible for the match being abandoned. The Panel recognised that the decision by Kosovo players was taken because of certain chants and whilst unacceptable, and the subject of other sanctions by UEFA, they cannot justify the abandonment of the pitch by the Kosovo national team. It was for the referee to decide on the steps to be taken. In addition, the Panel noted that the Kosovo players clearly declined to follow the referee’s instruction that they return to the pitch and continue the match.
The Panel ruled that the FFK, not the RFF, was responsible for the match not having been completed. The appeal by the FFK is dismissed and the Challenged Decision is upheld.
On 13 February 2025, CAS dismissed a separate appeal by the RFF against UEFA concerning sanctions during the same match for the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of supporters and transmitting provocative political messages not fit for a sports event. In this case, CAS ruled that the violations committed by RFF supporters were serious, and that the sanctions (multiple fines totaling 128’000 EUR) were not disproportionate. A media release on this case can be found on the CAS website.
This document is an unofficial summary for media use. Unless the Parties request confidentiality, the full Award with reasons will be published on the CAS website in due course.
For further information related to CAS activity and procedures, please contact Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General,
or Vanessa Tracey, Communications Officer. Palais de Beaulieu, av. Bergières 10, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland.
