The head of Switzerland’s football federation said on Sunday that he doesn’t expect FIFA to suspend his players, despite goal celebrations seen as inflaming political tensions with Serbia. FIFA has added a third Swiss player — captain Stephan Lichtsteiner — to an investigation of the goal scorers in a 2-1 win who made hand gestures of a two-headed eagle that is an Albanian national symbol. Lichtsteiner also made the gesture during the match.
Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri have ethnic Albanian heritage linked to Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. Serbia doesn’t recognise that independence. A strict reading of FIFA’s rules suggests that the key trio in Switzerland’s starting lineup could be ruled out until the quarterfinals.
“Anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches,” the FIFA disciplinary code states. FIFA’s disciplinary panel could impose only a fine and warning before Switzerland play Costa Rica on Wednesday. The Swiss need a draw to reach the round of 16.