Swiss players avoid World Cup ban for eagle celebrations

Sport360 staff 21:16 25/06/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner have been fined by FIFA over their celebrations in the 2-1 World Cup Group E win over Serbia last Friday.

    A statement from FIFA on Monday said Xhaka and Shaqiri had been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£7,632) each and Lichtsteiner 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,816), with all three also given warnings, having “infringed the FIFA disciplinary code for unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair-play.”

    Xhaka and Shaqiri, who scored Switzerland’s goals in the victory, were charged on Saturday after they celebrated by putting their hands together to form a double-headed eagle similar to the one on the Albanian flag.

    This nationalist symbol risked inflaming tensions in the Balkans among Serbians – who do not recognise Kosovo’s independence – and ethnic Albanians. On Sunday, FIFA announced Lichtsteiner had also been charged having joined in with the celebration.

    Winger Shaqiri was born in Kosovo and midfielder Xhaka was born to Albanian parents who were originally from Serbia.

    Xhaka’s father was a political prisoner following the 1968 student demonstrations in Yugoslavia against the communist government in Belgrade. Xhaka’s brother Taulant plays for Albania’s national side.

    Recommended