Football and politics: Xhaka, Shaqiri celebrate their way to Fifa’s bad book

What you need to know:

  • In October last year, Barcelona star Gerard Pique offered to stand down from Spain duty if he is deemed a problem by coach Julen Lopetegui or Spanish Football Federation as a result of his support for Catalan independence.
  • During 2016 Euro Championships in France, Pique was accused of giving the middle finger to the national anthem before the start of one of their games.
  • He had also been pictured wearing a team shirt without Spain’s colours.

IN MOSCOW

Football serves to promote friendship the world over, and the greatest football show on earth, the Fifa World Cup, should bring even greater friendship and understanding.

Yet that is not how things always turn out. Some players have used the greatest show on earth to show their disapproval of political situations back in their home countries, and to send political message of desire for secession.

To play at the Fifa World Cup is the crowning moment of every player’s career.

That moment when a player lines up shoulder to shoulder with team mates as the national anthem rings out loudly in the stadium is meant to be a moment of pride, but when feelings of political alienation and disenfranchisement set in, some players use the platform to send political messages they way Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri did.

The pair is being investigated for using Albanian nationalist symbols to celebrate their goals on Friday in Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Serbia, placed 66th in Fifa rankings, in Group E match in Kaliningrad.

After scoring, both made an eagle gesture understood to symbolize the two-headed eagle on the Albanian flag.

Both players are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population only ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but 10 years later, Serbia does not recognise Kosovo’s independence.

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 thumbs.

With Serbia leading 1-0 courtesy of an Aleksandar Mitrovi’s fifth-minute goal, Granit Shaka drew Switzerland level via a thunderous volley in the 51st minute, then the Arsenal midfielder celebrated with the symbol.

At the stroke of full time, Shakiri scored Switzerland’s winner from a swift counter-attack, then the Stoke City midfielder celebrated by crossing his fingers.

Shaqiri was born in Kosovo and plays with the Kosovan flag stitched into his boots. Both players were booed by Serbia fans.

“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,” Fifa said in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday.

The statement further read: “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.

But there were earlier cases before Shaqiri and Xhaka’s.

In October last year, Barcelona star Gerard Pique offered to stand down from Spain duty if he is deemed a problem by coach Julen Lopetegui or Spanish Football Federation as a result of his support for Catalan independence.

During 2016 Euro Championships in France, Pique was accused of giving the middle finger to the national anthem before the start of one of their games.

He had also been pictured wearing a team shirt without Spain’s colours.