FOOTBALL – UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE [2]
THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT DISMISSES THE APPEAL BY THE ROMANIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION AGAINST UEFA SANCTIONS
Lausanne, 13 February 2025 - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal by the Romanian Football Federation (RFF) against UEFA, ruling that the sanctions imposed on the RFF in relation to the UEFA Nations League match against Kosovo on 16 November 2024 are not disproportionate.
The RFF appealed to CAS to partially set aside a decision (‘Challenged Decision’) by the UEFA Appeals Body on 20 November 2024 following the match, which fined the RFF and ordered the closure of their stadium during the next match in which RFF plays at home. The appeal sought the annulment of the closure of the stadium and in the alternative to change the full closure of the stadium to a partial closure, and a reduction of the fines.
The Panel noted that the RFF did not contest the infringement of UEFA regulations (racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of supporters and transmitting provocative political messages not fit for a sports event (Art.14 & Art.16.2 UEFA Disciplinary Regulations)), but the disciplinary sanctions, which RFF considered disproportionate.
The Panel ruled that the violations committed by RFF supporters were serious and that the sanctions were compliant with the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and not disproportionate. Consequently, the Challenged Decision was upheld by the CAS Panel.
A separate appeal to the CAS by the Football Federation of Kosovo against the Romanian Football Federation and UEFA concerning the forfeiture of the Nations League match is still ongoing.
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.
