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    Saturday, June 23, 2018

    EAGLE EYES World Cup 2018: Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri face two-match tournament bans for ‘Albanian Eagle’ celebration against Serbia


    FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Swiss pair Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri for their "Albanian Eagle" celebrations.
    Serbian FA chiefs had demanded action from the world governing body after the two Prem stars made the gesture in the comeback win in Kaliningrad.
    The furious Serbs want the pair, who both made the double-headed eagle signal which is the symbol of Albanian independence, hit by the two-match ban that is laid down in Fifa regulations for "provocative gestures".
    That could happen after the world governing body announced: "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 versus Serbia."
    The pair both come from Kosovan Albanian families but have spent their whole lives in Switzerland after their parents sought sanctuary and fled the disputed territory.
    Shaqiri outraged the Serbs by wearing boots emblazoned with the flags of both Switzerland and his native land and Arsenal ace Xhaka screamed "Kosovo" as he celebrated.
    Xhaka maintained: "Frankly, my opponents did not interest me at all.
    "It was for my people, who always supported me. For those who did not neglect me, in my homeland, where my parents’ roots are. These were purely pure emotions."
    But Serbian FA Secretary General Jovan Surbatovic said: "We will write to Fifa.
    "There is the case of the boots.  There were several controversial gestures and we all saw what happened with both goals."
    Fifa’s disciplinary code bans political slogans on kits while Section 54 states: "Anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned with a minimum fine of CHF 5,000 (£3,800)."
    The Serbian FA were also charged for "crowd disturbance and the display of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans".
    Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic is under investigation for his comments about the failure to award a penalty for the two-man tag team assault on Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.
    Serbian FA vice-president and former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic said: "This was scandalous.
    "They had the opportunity to review the video five or even 10 times. We can accept the officials on the field getting it wrong but that’s where VAR should intervene.
    "The referee even gave a free-kick against Mitrovic. If that’s the case, what’s the point of VAR?"
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