The International Football Federation (FIFA) has opened a disciplinary procedure against Swiss football players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka on their celebration after the goals they scored in the match against Serbia's team on Friday in the framework of the world football championship .
Both Albanian footballers from Kosovo celebrated their goals with the sign of the two-headed eagle, which is the symbol of the Albanian national flag.
While Serbia, which opposes Kosovo's independence, has been complained of "provocation" by the Albanian footballers who have denied that their actions had a political background. "It was really a special day for me," said Granit Xhaka. "This is a victory for my family, for Switzerland, Albania and Kosovo. The action was for all those who supported me and had nothing to do with the opponents. It was a really emotional game," he said.
While Xherdan Shaqiri said that this "has nothing to do with politics, it has to do with football."
FIFA has also opened proceedings against the Serbian Football Federation for turmoil by crowds of fans and for a show of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans. A preliminary investigation was also been opened to the Serbian coach Mladen Krstajic, "because of post-match statements." The media quoted him as saying that the German referee Felix Brych, according to him, did not gave a penalty if favor of his team, and for this he "should be brought before The Hague Tribunal," referring to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
The Switzerland won against Serbia on Friday with the score 2:1 in a match that sparked many emotions and reactions in Serbia and Kosovo - the Goals for Switzerland were scored by Xhaka and Shaqiri, Switzerland's victory was also celebrated in Kosovo and was also welcomed by Albanian political leaders, while politicians in Serbia considered the defeat as very disappointing.
"We are behind our team.
Send your photo with the eagle symbol at @blick.ch editorial office or as a Facebook message here. We are happy," the largest Swiss newspaper, Blick wrote on Facebook.
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| Piere Pollier making the symbol of eagle |
"The performance of the Swiss national team is to be appreciated and it is understood when the emotions seize a player. It is not in the spirit of sports that emotions to produce controversy," Guy Parmelin said, member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2015.
"I do not doubt that you can feel the patriotic emotions of the nation, without forgetting the roots and the respective homeland," Ignazio Cassis said, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation since 2017.
There has been also a group of Croatians who got solidarisised yesterday with the two Albanians.
On the other side, the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic has reacted after the lose.
"Our nation is united, united in sadness and hardship, but we do not insult anyone because we love our country and do not hate anyone, the Albanians, yes. We will support our players, we believe in victory in the next game. And if we do not win, we will continue to love our team," Vucic said.
There has been also an incidend in Switzerland
An Albanian fan is injured of Friday afternoon in the city of Basel after the Serbia-Switzerland match ended. At least this is what the the Swiss police say.
The Albanian fan was walking in the streets of the city with the Albanian flag in his hands shortly after the end of the game when is attacked by a group of 3-4 people who, grasped the flag from his hands pierced him with knife in his feet. The 31-year-old Albanian is sent to the hospital and is out of danger for life.On the other hand, the Swiss police are investigating the incident and looking for the perpetrators.