In modern history, there have been several intersections of the two most popular forms of civic expression: politics, and sport. The latest incident involved Swiss football players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka.
Shaqiri and Xhaka landed in hot water during their game against Serbia, when their celebrations featured an Albanian Eagle. This symbol pointed to both players’ ethnic Albanian heritage, and the mostly Albanian region which declared independence from Serbia in 2008: Kosovo.
Xherdan Shaqiri also had a flag of Kosovo printed on his right boot during the game, a mark of provocation, according to the Serbians. The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has filed a complaint against his choice of footwear.
The Serbian government refuses to acknowledge Kosovo as a separate nation, although FIFA has allowed it separate representation as a national team. FIFA, the governing body of association football, and UEFA, its European counterpart, make sure Kosovo and Serbia are not drawn together. To even start disciplinary proceedings against two players supporting a nation that FIFA itself recognises on the basis of another member’s political prejudice is immense hypocrisy. The Swiss players protested that they were simply paying homage to their roots in a moment of jubilation, and yet have been found guilty!
They were tried under article 54 of the FIFA disciplinary code, which states “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”. Fortunately for the Swiss team, they escaped the bans and got away with a heavier fine.