Fifa investigates Switzerland duo over goal celebrations
GB news 24 desk//
ootball’s world governing body has opened an investigation into Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri’s goal celebrations during Switzerland’s World Cup victory over Serbia.
Both players are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population only ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.
After scoring, they made an eagle gesture in a symbol of the two-headed eagle on the Albanian flag.
Both were booed by Serbia fans.
In a statement, Fifa said its disciplinary committee had opened proceedings against Xhaka and Shaqiri, adding: “In relation to the same match, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Serbian FA for crowd disturbance and the display of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans.
“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.”
It is unclear what the investigation into Krstajic refers to, but in comments to Serbian reporters on Saturday, he said of match referee Felix Brych: “I wouldn’t give him either a yellow or red card, I would send him to The Hague. Then they could put him on trial, like they did to us.”
Football’s world governing body has opened an investigation into Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri’s goal celebrations during Switzerland’s World Cup victory over Serbia.
Both players are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population only ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.
After scoring, they made an eagle gesture in a symbol of the two-headed eagle on the Albanian flag.
Both were booed by Serbia fans.
In a statement, Fifa said its disciplinary committee had opened proceedings against Xhaka and Shaqiri, adding: “In relation to the same match, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Serbian FA for crowd disturbance and the display of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans.
“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.”
It is unclear what the investigation into Krstajic refers to, but in comments to Serbian reporters on Saturday, he said of match referee Felix Brych: “I wouldn’t give him either a yellow or red card, I would send him to The Hague. Then they could put him on trial, like they did to us.”
