SWITZERLAND PLAYERS GRANIT Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner escaped bans for celebrating goals with a pro-Kosovo double eagle gesture in their World Cup win over Serbia.
Fifa said Xhaka and Shaqiri would each be fined €8,700, and Lichtsteiner €4,300.
Arsenal midfielder Xhaka and Stoke City’s Shaqiri trace their roots to Kosovo, a former province of Serbia where thousands were killed and tens of thousands more chased from their homes during a 1998-1999 conflict between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian guerillas.
The double eagle symbol represents the Albanian flag and is viewed as a symbol of defiance in Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 in a move that Serbia still refuses to recognise.
The players’ celebrations in the 2-1 win over Serbia on Friday caused outrage in Serbia.
Fifa rules prohibit political symbols in stadiums and the three players could have been banned.
But Fifa said it was imposing the fines “for unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair-play”.
Switzerland and Serbia can both still qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup.
The Swiss face Costa Rica on Wednesday, when Serbia play Brazil.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Awful decisions, there would certainly have been bans had these demonstrations been pro Serbian. Keeping politics out of sport, you must be joking. Depends what politics. Serbia were disgracefully awarded a 3-0 defeat for no apparent reason in a Euro 16 qualifier v Albania after one of their fans sent a drone with the Albanian and Kosovan flags onto the pitch, causing match abandonment. Serbia were awarded a 3-0 win, but this was reversed for no apparent reason.
Common sense
Iran v Portugal to be one of the best games of this World Cup and Ronaldo to fire Portugal into the next round…
Think if I was forced to move from my home at a young age and scored against the country that caused it, I’d be the same as Shaqiri and Xhaka. Not to condone it, politics shouldn’t be involved in football but I understand why they did it.
Seems mad that something is worth a ban of 8 grand and yet not worth a match ban.
Highly politicised provocative gestures are only allowed if you’re on the right side. Disgraceful decision by ‘fair play’ FIFA.