Romania – Kosovo started on Friday at 21.45 and ended the next day, close to 1.00 am. The images of our players and spectators waiting for the final verdict of the referee and spotter were stark.
The Danish referee, put by Kosovo in an embarrassing situation. Sportpictures photo
Normally, things are clear. If a team refuses to play, the referee will time 3 minutes and, if it does not return to resume the game, blow the final whistle. In the case of last night’s match, the situation was different. The referees, the spotter, UEFA – by phone – and the visitors’ coach had little left and were on their knees to persuade the Kosovo players to re-enter the pitch. For an hour!
The Danish referee, overwhelmed by the situation
Some of our guests were bare bottomed in the showers, others were eating pizza, others were shouting as the officials tried to explain to them the consequences of their action. They agreed to return to the pitch, but the hard core of the footballers watched several video clips from the extra time of the match at the National Arena and decided that, based on those images, they could win the match on the “green table”, so they decided to go home.
The young Danish referee Morten Krogh appeared overwhelmed by the situation and delayed making a final decision, although the situation was clear. That’s also because UEFA wants games to end normally, so the officials must do everything possible to get the game restarted and finished according to regulation, with both teams on the field. Thus, the center decided to blow the final whistle only when he saw that the players from Kosovo were dressed and on their way to the coach.
Cristi Balaj: UEFA gave the people of Kosovo a chance to be ashamed
Former referee Cristi Balaj commented on the situation for fanatik.ro: “The UEFA gave the Kosovars the opportunity to embarrass themselves to the end. Those 3 minutes turned into 60. There were pleas to get back on the field. The regulation states that they were only allowed to stay in the locker room for three minutes. It’s not just the referee who decides. There is an intervention cell for such matches. UEFA has a committee that supports the referee. UEFA wants everything to be decided on the pitch. UEFA gave the Kosovans a chance to embarrass themselves. There can only be one decision. It’s a bit much just to charge them with a 0-3 defeat.
Kosovo has opened Pandora’s box. Their behavior during the game in the match organized in Kosovo, where there was huge hostility, raises questions. From now on, any gallery that wants to annoy them will know how to provoke them. Lying has been raised to an unprecedented level. They proved that they are not men. They opened Pandora’s box”explained Cristi Balaj.
Most likely, the UEFA Nations League game will be approved by UEFA with 3-0 in favor of Romania, and the players from Kosovo who made the Albanian eagle gesture and those who showed the middle finger when leaving the field will be severely penalized. Depending on the evidence that the two camps will bring, the national team of the Serbian province will also suffer other penalties.
