Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri are to face punishment for their use of an Albanian nationalist symbol to celebrate their goals in Switzerland’s dramatic 2–1 World Cup win over Serbia on Friday. According to FIFA’s rules which are stipulated in her act, the Swiss players could face a two match ban if the investigation turns outside their favor.
In a statement by FIFA read: “The Fifa disciplinary committee has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Swiss players Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri for their goal celebration during the match Switzerland vs Serbia.”
The Swiss pair both scored in their country’s World Cup win over Serbia on Friday and celebrated by forming an eagle with their hands.
According to Fifa’s disciplinary code, article 54 states that “anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned with a minimum fine of 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,800)”.
The pair, both of Kosovar-Albanian heritage, turned the Group E meeting in Kaliningrad on its head in the second half, each scoring to earn Switzerland victory after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s early opener.
Xhaka, whose father was imprisoned in the former Yugoslavia after protesting for Kosovan independence, celebrated his second-half equaliser by locking his open hands together at the the thumbs and ‘flapping’ his fingers. The gesture resembles — and is understood to be a reference to — the two-headed eagle on Albania’s national flag.
Shaqiri, who was born in Kosovo and plays with the Kosovan flag stitched into his boots, celebrated in the same manner after scoring a 90th-minute winner.
The celebrations run the risk of inflaming tensions between ethnic Albanians and nationalist Serbs in Kosovo and beyond. Vladimir Petkovic, Switzerland’s head coach, suggested his players were caught in the heat of the moment and hoped the celebrations would not detract from his side’s victory.
“Furthermore, a preliminary investigation has been opened against the coach of the Serbian national team Mladen Krstajic for alleged statements made in the aftermath of the said match.”