Serbia hits out at a "provocative" double eagle celebration by two ethnic Albanian goalscorers in WC

[Abdullah719]

Serbia hits out at a "provocative" double eagle celebration by two ethnic Albanian goalscorers in WC

Serbia has hit out at a "provocative" double eagle celebration by two ethnic Albanian goalscorers in the World Cup.

Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri scored for Switzerland who beat Serbia 2-1.

Their gesture is an nationalist symbol representing the double headed eagle on Albania's national flag. Critics say it could inflame tensions among Serbian nationalists and ethnic Albanians.

Albania's president applauded the pair but a pro-government Serbian newspaper said they had "humiliated" Switzerland.

The celebration has brought political tensions in the Balkans on to the World Cup stage.

BBC Monitoring reports that in Serbia, pro-government newspaper Informer used a derogatory term for Albanians, saying "the Albanian clan within 'clockmakers' team was sending poisoned arrows weeks before, so the match couldn't pass without a provocation".

Some Swiss papers also called the gesture a provocation betraying a lack of political sensitivity.

Both players had earlier been booed by Serbian fans during the match.

Shaqiri later sought to downplay his celebration, saying: "It's just emotion. I'm very happy to score this goal. It's not more. I think we don't have to speak about this now."

Xhaka and Shaqiri's families are from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population only ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.

Xhaka's father spent three-and-a-half years as a political prisoner in Yugoslavia for his support for Kosovan independence. Shaqiri was born in Kosovo and his family fled to Switzerland as refugees.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority declared independence in 2008 but Serbia, its ally Russia and most ethnic Serbs inside Kosovo do not recognise it.

There had already been some tension between the Serbian and ethnic Albanian Swiss players before the game.

Shaqiri wears boots displaying the Swiss flag on one heel and the Kosovan flag on the other - but Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic asked: "If he loves Kosovo so much and decides to flaunt the flag, why did he refuse a chance to play for their team?"

The Switzerland attacker was then roundly booed by Serbs when his name was announced.

Afterwards the Swiss manager Vladimir Petkovic - born in Bosnia - said: "You should never mix football and politics." Serbian manager Mladen Krstajic - also from Bosnia - refused to comment.

Most Serbian media said the goal celebration was a provocation, but not all took a tone of outrage.

Popular news portal B92 said the match had been made "politically tense"

Widely read Blic said of Shaqiri: "He first made us mourn and then explained after the match in Serbian language why he provoked"

Srbin.info said: "Brutal provocation: Xhaka displays the Albanian eagle after scoring and infuriates all Serbs"

However Vecernje Novosti, Politika and state broadcaster RTS focused instead on a complaint by the Serbian football association over the referee's failure to award a penalty when Mitrovic was apparently wrestled to the ground by two Swiss players.

The Serbian football association is also complaining about Shaqiri's boots, the goal celebrations and Albanian flags in the stands, they reported.

It is not the first time that football has provided a flashpoint for the long and bitter rivalry between Serbia and Albania.

In 2014 a match between the Balkan nations was abandoned after a drone carrying an Albanian flag sparked a brawl. Ordinary Albanian fans had been banned from attending the game.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44586587

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Serbia fans wearing shirts with Ratko Mladic’s face, the war criminal convicted of Genocide against Bosniak Muslims, & following the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SERSWI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SERSWI</a> game Serbia fans chanting “Nož, žica, Srebrenica”. <br><br>Yeah, football is definitely political. <a href="https://t.co/KmaWUFTOoH">pic.twitter.com/KmaWUFTOoH</a></p>— Arnesa (@Rrrrnessa) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rrrrnessa/status/1010544173542526978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Out and about chatting to Serbian and Swiss fans ahead of tonight’s game. Ran into these guys. <br><br>That’s a photo of war criminal Ratko Mladic on their hoodies. There was a €10m warrant out for his arrest in 2010, and he was sentenced to life in prison in 2017. <a href="https://t.co/qC0K0M048Y">pic.twitter.com/qC0K0M048Y</a></p>— Ireland / Ronan (@ireland) <a href="https://twitter.com/ireland/status/1010142471689588736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Pakistanian]

Lol love the celebration. The Illyrian dragon flag is the coolest flag in the world.

 

[TM Riddle]

Lol Serbians sound like people you wouldn't ever wanna cross.

 

[LongHorn]

There was epic trolling few years back when in a qualifier between Albania and Serbia, a drone came on the field with the Albanian flag ...

As for this matter, the 3 Albanian origin players were booed for 90 minutes by the Serb fans and the Russians who are their cultural brothers (kind of like Pakistan-Turkey), cannot blame them if they had to rub it in after scoring

 

[Markhor]

Serbians crying and playing victim as always. How can they cry about politics mixing with football when their fans have been wearing Ratko Mladic hoodies and chanting "Kosovo is Serbia" ?

 

[Sirris]

Bottom line is the swiss players shouldn't have made those signs. They are representing Swiss and not Kosovo.

 

[DeadBall]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SUI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SUI</a>'s Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri face two-match bans for their goal celebrations against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SER?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SER</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/yXkTinSCaf">pic.twitter.com/yXkTinSCaf</a></p>— PakPassion Sport (@PakPassionSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPassionSport/status/1010894859815870464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Markhor]

Bottom line is the swiss players shouldn't have made those signs. They are representing Swiss and not Kosovo.

Players are not robots - the Russian and Serbian fans in the stadium were heckling those two all game.

Xhaka's father was a political prisoner in the former Yugoslavia, so it's understandable that emotions were running high.

The Serbian manager himself made political comments:

Unfortunately, it seems that only the Serbs are condemned to a selective justice, once (it was) the damned Hague and today in football the VAR

 

[Kroll]

Although there was a lot of provocation, I honestly feel, each of these two could have shown they were the better man by refraining from such actions and in the process showing their class and tact. The football should be about bringing people of different backgrounds together in joy and celebration, not heightening tensions and animosity.

 

[Sirris]

Players are not robots - the Russian and Serbian fans in the stadium were heckling those two all game.

Xhaka's father was a political prisoner in the former Yugoslavia, so it's understandable that emotions were running high.

The Serbian manager himself made political comments:

I am looking at the issue from the Swiss point of view.

Switzerland is a country with a significant immigrant population from all parts of the world. Though immigrants from Balkan make a large part of it. Many people from Balkan seeked refugee in the 90s from the conflict in Switzerland. Serbs, Croats and Kosovo-albanians amongst them.

Irrespective of the context this sort of celebration has been a matter of great debate amongst the Swiss in the past too. The "double-eagle" celebration doesn't represent Switzerland and a large part of Swiss population expressed their disgust over it. It polarized the society. We don't want the "double-eagle" to be associated with Switzerland nor represent us.

The players should have the decency to respect their host country which gave them shelter and not use it as a platform to continue their childish quarrels.

There are many second generation Serbs and Albanians living in Switzerland and we don't want the conflict from which these people fled to spread out in the Swiss society.

A Swiss-Albanian in his free time can make all sorts of hand signs. He has the freedom to do so. Nobody is telling anyone to betray their roots. However when you are representing Switzerland on an international stage and the whole nation is behind you and supporting you and it has already been established that doing this gesture is at odds with the local population then you better show some sense and celebrate in a different way.

People from Balkan are already notorious for being troublemakers amongst the Swiss and the native population is starting to resent them. The gesture was straight out disgusting and I don't want to see it in the Swiss national team ever again. Something which was supposed to unite the nation ended up causing a rift. Once again a national debate in Switzerland has started over this issue irrespective of what the Serbian and Russian did. The sentiments are running high and the mistrust of natives towards the immigrants is growing.

 

[Sirris]

Roughly 80% Swiss of fans stoped the celebrations when the idiot made that gesture. The win didn't feel like a win. It felt more like a slap on the face of Swiss nation.

 

[Markhor]

Roughly 80% Swiss of fans stoped the celebrations when the idiot made that gesture. The win didn't feel like a win. It felt more like a slap on the face of Swiss nation.

Talk about hyperbole ! The fans in the ground were jubilant as were those watching at home as can be seen by all the online videos recording the celebrations. Parts of the Swiss media have criticised the celebrations from what I've read but nobody has blasted it in such terms.

Your argument seems to be that footballers are entitled to freedom of speech so long as its not on the football pitch which is contradictory. Last time I checked freedom of expression is not conditional on your vocation. Pep Guardiola wore a pro-Catalonian independence ribbon on the touchline at Manchester City yet nobody called him a troublemaker who should leave his political issue back home. Most recognised his right to speak up against the Spanish government's suppression of the independence movement. He paid his fine and nothing more was said. I don't believe any Man City fan wished to disown Guardiola on their way to a PL title win.

Here you have two guys who fled their country after Serbia under Slobodan Milosevic stripped Kosovo of their autonomy, imprisoned demonstrators and sent thugs to butcher Kosovan civilians like they did in Bosnia where the worst ethnic massacres took place in Europe since the Holocaust. Serbia to this day does not recognise Kosovo's independence and whenever they play Switzerland - their fans heckle the players of Kosovan extraction non stop. And you expect players not to react ?

I have no right to dictate to those guys, who have experienced personal horrors you and I couldn't begin to imagine, what gestures they should or shouldn't make when celebrating. This idea that football and politics shouldn't mix is a nonsense - the only reason why Russia and Qatar are hosting WCs is political. As long as its not Nazi salutes then I have no problem.

A civil war will not break out in Switzerland over some hand gestures in a football match. If anything folks should be grateful for these players of Kosovan extraction as they wouldn't still be in this WC without their efforts. Those "resentful of immigration" were most likely resentful to begin with as we can see by the popularity of far-right parties across Europe and will find any excuse to continue to be resentful.

 

[DeadBall]

Talk about hyperbole ! The fans in the ground were jubilant as were those watching at home as can be seen by all the online videos recording the celebrations. Parts of the Swiss media have criticised the celebrations from what I've read but nobody has blasted it in such terms.

Your argument seems to be that footballers are entitled to freedom of speech so long as its not on the football pitch which is contradictory. Last time I checked freedom of expression is not conditional on your vocation. Pep Guardiola wore a pro-Catalonian independence ribbon on the touchline at Manchester City yet nobody called him a troublemaker who should leave his political issue back home. Most recognised his right to speak up against the Spanish government's suppression of the independence movement. He paid his fine and nothing more was said. I don't believe any Man City fan wished to disown Guardiola on their way to a PL title win.

Here you have two guys who fled their country after Serbia under Slobodan Milosevic stripped Kosovo of their autonomy, imprisoned demonstrators and sent thugs to butcher Kosovan civilians like they did in Bosnia where the worst ethnic massacres took place in Europe since the Holocaust. Serbia to this day does not recognise Kosovo's independence and whenever they play Switzerland - their fans heckle the players of Kosovan extraction non stop. And you expect players not to react ?

I have no right to dictate to those guys, who have experienced personal horrors you and I couldn't begin to imagine, what gestures they should or shouldn't make when celebrating. This idea that football and politics shouldn't mix is a nonsense - the only reason why Russia and Qatar are hosting WCs is political. As long as its not Nazi salutes then I have no problem.

A civil war will not break out in Switzerland over some hand gestures in a football match. If anything folks should be grateful for these players of Kosovan extraction as they wouldn't still be in this WC without their efforts. Those "resentful of immigration" were most likely resentful to begin with as we can see by the popularity of far-right parties across Europe and will find any excuse to continue to be resentful.

Point isn't football and politics, that's OK with any sport. Problem is the players showing their political or national leanings from before which they should not do especially considering their adopted country. Very insulting.

 

[Sirris]

Talk about hyperbole ! The fans in the ground were jubilant as were those watching at home as can be seen by all the online videos recording the celebrations. Parts of the Swiss media have criticised the celebrations from what I've read but nobody has blasted it in such terms.

[...]

Let's make a long story short. You might read a few things here and there. I however am Swiss. I live and breathe Switzerland and I know what the people are truly feeling because I talk to them on a daily basis. I know the dynamics of Swiss society.

When the match was going on I was watching it on a local Swiss TV. The Swiss commentator blasted the player the moment he saw the gesture.

As I said previously this type of celebration has been criticized by the Swiss nation in the past too.

I would rather lose 100 matches then have players in the team who don't respect the sentiment of the nation.

I hope fifa bans them and they learn a lesson.

The sentiment Swiss people have towards a certain group of people from Balkan is parallel to an extent the sentiment which Pakistani have towards the Afghans: Ungrateful bunch who don't care about the Swiss nation and are just looking after their own self-interest.

I know there is a lot of politics at play and the Yugoslavian war was a dirty one. But I am not debating that issue. I am also not debating the issue of football and politics.

As a Swiss and living amongst fellow Swiss I can tell you this gesture was disgusting and insensitive.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Let's make a long story short. You might read a few things here and there. I however am Swiss. I live and breathe Switzerland and I know what the people are truly feeling because I talk to them on a daily basis. I know the dynamics of Swiss society.

When the match was going on I was watching it on a local Swiss TV. The Swiss commentator blasted the player the moment he saw the gesture.

As I said previously this type of celebration has been criticized by the Swiss nation in the past too.

I would rather lose 100 matches then have players in the team who don't respect the sentiment of the nation.

I hope fifa bans them and they learn a lesson.

The sentiment Swiss people have towards a certain group of people from Balkan is parallel to an extent the sentiment which Pakistani have towards the Afghans: Ungrateful bunch who don't care about the Swiss nation and are just looking after their own self-interest.

I know there is a lot of politics at play and the Yugoslavian war was a dirty one. But I am not debating that issue. I am also not debating the issue of football and politics.

As a Swiss and living amongst fellow Swiss I can tell you this gesture was disgusting and insensitive.

Disgusting and insensitive to the Swiss? How?

They did a gesture of what is on the flag of a nation.

Shaqiri had to leave his home as a baby. His home was set on fire. He has worn football boots with the flag of Alabania previously while playing for the Swiss national team.

I dont know if you watched the game but he gave it 110%, played an absolute blinder for the Swiss who are now set to qualify to the knockout stages.


If the Swiss cannot understand his background and context while at the same time understanding his respect and love for Switzerland, then frankly they are idiots and let them cry about this.

 

[Pakistanian]

Overreaction by FIFA. Why don't they ban Serb fans and penalize their team for their disgusting behavior during the match. They were wearing the shirt of a war criminal.

 

[Sirris]

Disgusting and insensitive to the Swiss? How?

They did a gesture of what is on the flag of a nation.

Shaqiri had to leave his home as a baby. His home was set on fire. He has worn football boots with the flag of Alabania previously while playing for the Swiss national team.

I dont know if you watched the game but he gave it 110%, played an absolute blinder for the Swiss who are now set to qualify to the knockout stages.


If the Swiss cannot understand his background and context while at the same time understanding his respect and love for Switzerland, then frankly they are idiots and let them cry about this.

There is more to this problematic then what an outsider could understand.

I'd like to know how you guys would feel if Pakistani cricket team had an Afghan origin player who after scoring a century would take out an Afghan flag as a mean of celebration.

 

[Pakistanian]

If I were a pro athlete repping America at a global event amd I was playing india then I'd pull out a free Kashmir flag.

 

[Pakistanian]

There is more to this problematic then what an outsider could understand.

I'd like to know how you guys would feel if Pakistani cricket team had an Afghan origin player who after scoring a century would take out an Afghan flag as a mean of celebration.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have bad blood. A better comparison would be if an Azerbaijani playing for Pakistan did a pro Azerbaijani gesture after scoring against Armenia. We'd have no problem whatsoever.

 

[KingKhanWC]

There is more to this problematic then what an outsider could understand.

I'd like to know how you guys would feel if Pakistani cricket team had an Afghan origin player who after scoring a century would take out an Afghan flag as a mean of celebration.

I dont live in Pakistan and your comparison will not happen because Afghans have their own team. But even if an Afghan was to play for Pakistan, who arrived as refugee leaving his nation war torn with many people murdered and gave an Afghan symbol while Pakistan beat USSR, I doubt Pakistan public will feel disgusted.

Perhaps it's you and the Swiss who dont understand what being a liberal nation is? Here I support Pakistan in cricket. When i go to a Pakistan v England game, the English fans know Im British and I support Pakistan dont feel im a traitor or are offended.

 

[Sirris]

Pakistan and Afghanistan have bad blood. A better comparison would be if an Azerbaijani playing for Pakistan did a pro Azerbaijani gesture after scoring against Armenia. We'd have no problem whatsoever.

No, I chose an Afghan player on purpose.

There is whole dynamic to it which an outsider is unaware of. There are good and bad people everywhere however Balkan people are number one trouble makers in Switzerland. It might not be as extreme as what Pakistan has to deal with. But for Swiss standard it is a big issue.

 

[Pakistanian]

No, I chose an Afghan player on purpose.

There is whole dynamic to it which an outsider is unaware of. There are good and bad people everywhere however Balkan people are number one trouble makers in Switzerland. It might not be as extreme as what Pakistan has to deal with. But for Swiss standard it is a big issue.

Yeah but Switzerland does not have bad blood with Albania the country. They're to the Swiss to what Mexicans are to us here. It's totally incomparable to Afghanistan.

 

[Sirris]

I dont live in Pakistan and your comparison will not happen because Afghans have their own team. But even if an Afghan was to play for Pakistan, who arrived as refugee leaving his nation war torn with many people murdered and gave an Afghan symbol while Pakistan beat USSR, I doubt Pakistan public will feel disgusted.

Perhaps it's you and the Swiss who dont understand what being a liberal nation is? Here I support Pakistan in cricket. When i go to a Pakistan v England game, the English fans know Im British and I support Pakistan dont feel im a traitor or are offended.

No one is stopping the Albanian in Switzerland to support Albania in a Swiss vs Albania match. You are missing the whole point. In fact there were many Swiss-Serbs who were supporting Serbia in the Serbia vs Swiss match. During the Albania vs Swiss match in Eurocup many Kosovo immigrants were supporting Albania. Fans in Switzerland are out on the streets with a Serbian or Kosovo flag. No one is stopping them. No one cares as long as they keep it peaceful. That is not the point.

The point is Switzerland is a country with people from many different nation and cultures. When you are representing Switzerland on an international stage you don't make a sign which is 100% associated with Albania and Albanian pride. When you do it the vast majority of the nation feels a sense of disassociation and alienness. No one is telling the players to forget about their origin. No one is stopping them to pay respect to their roots in a proper manner.

There is a significant number of Serbs living in Switzerland too how would they cheer a player making a sign which has a specific meaning. Switzerland is a neutral country and we want to carry on living in harmony. We don't want to pick sides. Both Serbian and Albanian citizen suffered from war. We don't want the conflict to carry on in our land. Especially after these people came here to seek refugee from Balkan conflict to begin with.

This is not the first time this issue has been brought up. Even in the past when the matches werent against a controversial team such as Serbia certain players made the sign and the issue was raised by the public.

Being a liberal nation doesn't mean you sacrifice your dignity as a nation. Being a liberal nation doesn't mean it is free ride and everyone can come in and do whatever they feel like. Swiss are an intelligent nation. It wasn't pure luck which helped them to remain practically unharmed during the two world wars despite being surrounded by the agressors. You have to set certain boundaries.

 

[KingKhanWC]

No one is stopping the Albanian in Switzerland to support Albania in a Swiss vs Albania match. You are missing the whole point. In fact there were many Swiss-Serbs who were supporting Serbia in the Serbia vs Swiss match. During the Albania vs Swiss match in Eurocup many Kosovo immigrants were supporting Albania. Fans in Switzerland are out on the streets with a Serbian or Kosovo flag. No one is stopping them. No one cares as long as they keep it peaceful. That is not the point.

The point is Switzerland is a country with people from many different nation and cultures. When you are representing Switzerland on an international stage you don't make a sign which is 100% associated with Albania and Albanian pride. When you do it the vast majority of the nation feels a sense of disassociation and alienness. No one is telling the players to forget about their origin. No one is stopping them to pay respect to their roots in a proper manner.

There is a significant number of Serbs living in Switzerland too how would they cheer a player making a sign which has a specific meaning. Switzerland is a neutral country and we want to carry on living in harmony. We don't want to pick sides. Both Serbian and Albanian citizen suffered from war. We don't want the conflict to carry on in our land. Especially after these people came here to seek refugee from Balkan conflict to begin with.

This is not the first time this issue has been brought up. Even in the past when the matches werent against a controversial team such as Serbia certain players made the sign and the issue was raised by the public.

Being a liberal nation doesn't mean you sacrifice your dignity as a nation. Being a liberal nation doesn't mean it is free ride and everyone can come in and do whatever they feel like. Swiss are an intelligent nation. It wasn't pure luck which helped them to remain practically unharmed during the two world wars despite being surrounded by the agressors. You have to set certain boundaries.

I dont mean to offend but the Swiss you are describing do not sound intelligent at all. Sure Swiss are neutrals which is why they dont have wars but they need to understand these people have backgrounds. The Serb Swiss will be offended, I can understand this but they need to realise the war crimes their leaders were involved in, which humanity has never seen before. If they dont want to support those players , it's their choice. Those players have earned the right to play for the team. It was very emotional for the players esp how the Serbs fans were abusing them throughout the match, and they reacted in response.

Amir Khan has worn the Pakistan flag on his boxing shorts. I cant recall any British Indians getting offended or the Boxing control board fining him. The British people esp didn't care at all. Amir even walks in with the Pakistan flag along with the British flag. Would the Swiss be offended if they had a tatoo of the eagle on their body and celebrated by showing it?

Swiss should get on with enjoying the football and not get worked up by this. Serbs and Albanians will hate each other for a long time to come, they need to accept this and move on.

 

[Sirris]

I dont mean to offend but the Swiss you are describing do not sound intelligent at all. Sure Swiss are neutrals which is why they dont have wars but they need to understand these people have backgrounds. The Serb Swiss will be offended, I can understand this but they need to realise the war crimes their leaders were involved in, which humanity has never seen before. If they dont want to support those players , it's their choice. Those players have earned the right to play for the team. It was very emotional for the players esp how the Serbs fans were abusing them throughout the match, and they reacted in response.

Amir Khan has worn the Pakistan flag on his boxing shorts. I cant recall any British Indians getting offended or the Boxing control board fining him. The British people esp didn't care at all. Amir even walks in with the Pakistan flag along with the British flag. Would the Swiss be offended if they had a tatoo of the eagle on their body and celebrated by showing it?

Swiss should get on with enjoying the football and not get worked up by this. Serbs and Albanians will hate each other for a long time to come, they need to accept this and move on.

When I say "Swiss" I don't just mean the native Swiss. I mean the vast majority of people living in Switzerland from different backgrounds. As I said there is more to it than just players from a random country paying respect to their homeland. In a rather peaceful and small country the vast majority of troublemakers and aggressors come from Balkan region and the people had enough of it. When they then use the international platform while representing Switzerland to further their childish quarrels we can't just sit back and let them dictate the Swiss identity on international stage. Rarely have these player shown respect to the Swiss flag on international stage. And such things don't go unnoticed.

And as I said the players have done these kind of celebration even when the opponent wasn't serbian. So stop trying to bring in the emotional aspect.

We have every right to define our own national pride and identity. When someone is representing us on the big stage we have every right to define which behavior is acceptable and which isn't. You can't just ignore the sentiment of general public and surpress it for the sake of liberalism and freedom of expression. When you surpress such sentiments for a long time you get radical alt-right movements. You get people like Trump as your president. You get a lack of trust amongst the people.

Despite having people from many different cultures Switzerland is a small country and everything feels like a big family. There are second generation Serbs and Albanians living here we don't plan on to keep the conflict alive among the future generation. The happiness and harmony in the family doesn't come from a lack of restriction. You have to draw certain boundaries and have people respect them or otherwise risk long-term consequences.

Unlike many other nations of Europe Swiss society doesn't suffer from a series of systematic hate crime towards minorities or violent attacks. We don't suffer from acid attacks or white supremacy movements. We don't suffer from parallel societies. This has a lot to do with Swiss tradition of open dialogue, mutual understanding and respecting eachothers boundaries. Sometimes compromises have to be made for happiness to thrive.

 

[KingKhanWC]

When I say "Swiss" I don't just mean the native Swiss. I mean the vast majority of people living in Switzerland from different backgrounds. As I said there is more to it than just players from a random country paying respect to their homeland. In a rather peaceful and small country the vast majority of troublemakers and aggressors come from Balkan region and the people had enough of it. When they then use the international platform while representing Switzerland to further their childish quarrels we can't just sit back and let them dictate the Swiss identity on international stage. Rarely have these player shown respect to the Swiss flag on international stage. And such things don't go unnoticed.

And as I said the players have done these kind of celebration even when the opponent wasn't serbian. So stop trying to bring in the emotional aspect.

We have every right to define our own national pride and identity. When someone is representing us on the big stage we have every right to define which behavior is acceptable and which isn't. You can't just ignore the sentiment of general public and surpress it for the sake of liberalism and freedom of expression. When you surpress such sentiments for a long time you get radical alt-right movements. You get people like Trump as your president. You get a lack of trust amongst the people.

Despite having people from many different cultures Switzerland is a small country and everything feels like a big family. There are second generation Serbs and Albanians living here we don't plan on to keep the conflict alive among the future generation. The happiness and harmony in the family doesn't come from a lack of restriction. You have to draw certain boundaries and have people respect them or otherwise risk long-term consequences.

Unlike many other nations of Europe Swiss society doesn't suffer from a series of systematic hate crime towards minorities or violent attacks. We don't suffer from acid attacks or white supremacy movements. We don't suffer from parallel societies. This has a lot to do with Swiss tradition of open dialogue, mutual understanding and respecting eachothers boundaries. Sometimes compromises have to be made for happiness to thrive.

You have a small nation with less than 10 million people which is largely irrelevant in the world. Switzerland has no political power on the world platform. Sure your crime is lower and you dont see certain crimes which is nice but you cannot compare Switzerland with the UK which has over 7/8 times the population and people from all over the world living here.

You call it a 'childish quarrel'. It seems you have little knowledge of the conflict and what went on, please do some research and then try to imagine yourself in the shoes of Shaqiri? If you were him and were able to control your emotions in a world cup game scoring a winning goal against a team which represents those who butchered your people and whose fans have been abusing you all game, you would deserve the noble peace prize.

Your posts seems to imply those people are trouble causers. Whether Shaqiri did this or not, it would make little difference to the animosity these people have between each other, trouble causers will remain for a couple of generations and perhaps longer as Serbia still doesn't recognise lands as independent.

Have the Swiss FA banned them or has the government called for them to be banned? If not the Swiss people need to move on and enjoy the world cup. Without those two Swiss would be out and getting ready to jump on the plane home.

 

[JaDed]

I dont mean to offend but the Swiss you are describing do not sound intelligent at all. Sure Swiss are neutrals which is why they dont have wars but they need to understand these people have backgrounds. The Serb Swiss will be offended, I can understand this but they need to realise the war crimes their leaders were involved in, which humanity has never seen before. If they dont want to support those players , it's their choice. Those players have earned the right to play for the team. It was very emotional for the players esp how the Serbs fans were abusing them throughout the match, and they reacted in response.

Amir Khan has worn the Pakistan flag on his boxing shorts. I cant recall any British Indians getting offended or the Boxing control board fining him. The British people esp didn't care at all. Amir even walks in with the Pakistan flag along with the British flag. Would the Swiss be offended if they had a tatoo of the eagle on their body and celebrated by showing it?

Swiss should get on with enjoying the football and not get worked up by this. Serbs and Albanians will hate each other for a long time to come, they need to accept this and move on.

Amir Khan has been respectful of India, if he makes remarks against India the country from a Pakistani-Indian perspective, British Indians would obviously care.

For example if Moen Ali does something like that against Indian cricket team , which he LL not coz he knows it's a sport and he is mindful that he is representing England , plus he also plays in IPL now.

Although personally I dislike the Serbs and Albanians and couldn't care what they do to each other , my comments are only w.r.t British Asians.

 

[James]

I support the two guys 100% in this, hope they don’t get banned.

 

[Greenstorm]

There is more to this problematic then what an outsider could understand.

I'd like to know how you guys would feel if Pakistani cricket team had an Afghan origin player who after scoring a century would take out an Afghan flag as a mean of celebration.

I and probably most of the Pakistanis will not have a problem with that. That player will score century for Pakistan, not Afghanistan, and that is what most fans care about.

 

[imrankhannsu]

If Nazi one hand celebrations are frowned up, then any other ones with political messages should also be clamped on. However I am happy for the Swiss

 

[Zaz]

There is more to this problematic then what an outsider could understand.

I'd like to know how you guys would feel if Pakistani cricket team had an Afghan origin player who after scoring a century would take out an Afghan flag as a mean of celebration.

This isnt a suitable example as afghan and pakistan have bad blood between them which swiss and albania dont

The guys didnt disrespect switzerland in anyway

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Let's make a long story short. You might read a few things here and there. I however am Swiss. I live and breathe Switzerland and I know what the people are truly feeling because I talk to them on a daily basis. I know the dynamics of Swiss society.

When the match was going on I was watching it on a local Swiss TV. The Swiss commentator blasted the player the moment he saw the gesture.

As I said previously this type of celebration has been criticized by the Swiss nation in the past too.

I would rather lose 100 matches then have players in the team who don't respect the sentiment of the nation.

I hope fifa bans them and they learn a lesson.

The sentiment Swiss people have towards a certain group of people from Balkan is parallel to an extent the sentiment which Pakistani have towards the Afghans: Ungrateful bunch who don't care about the Swiss nation and are just looking after their own self-interest.

I know there is a lot of politics at play and the Yugoslavian war was a dirty one. But I am not debating that issue. I am also not debating the issue of football and politics.

As a Swiss and living amongst fellow Swiss I can tell you this gesture was disgusting and insensitive.

If you represent the Swiss opinion, why do you pick these guys to play for Switzerland in the first place? Shaquiri's hardly hidden his feelings about his ties to Albania, he wears the flag on his boots by all accounts. Seems to be a disconnect between the principle and reality somewhere.

 

[srh]

[MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION] your posts show Switzerland as not a good country; I hope you are wrong and Swiss are not as close minded as you

 

[James]

If Nazi one hand celebrations are frowned up, then any other ones with political messages should also be clamped on. However I am happy for the Swiss

Given the historical context, Nazi salutes are a bit different to anything else I would say.

The Nazis came close to turning the whole world upside down, with firm plans to rewrite human history and redesign global society so it would never be the same again. There is also the Holocaust factor to consider, wherein Jews and other minorities were systematically exterminated in their millions.

World War Two as a result is totally unique and cannot be compared to any other conflict, just as the Nazi Party is totally unique and cannot be compared to any other political movement.

Nazi salutes are therefore considered completely taboo, over any other political gesture that I can think of, and rightly so too.

 

[James]

[MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION] has made Switzerland sound like quite a xenophobic country in my opinion.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

[MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION] has made Switzerland sound like quite a xenophobic country in my opinion.

I think this is unintended hyperbole, the eagle celebration was in hindsight, not a great idea, but it was never meant to disrespect Switzerland, and I'd be surprised if the average Swiss was that bothered, although now that a fuss has been made, probably the players and fans would rather it didn't happen again. Footballers are often guilty of making silly gestures, but they should get a slap on the hand and move on, as should everybody else.

 

[the Great Khan]

No, I chose an Afghan player on purpose.

There is whole dynamic to it which an outsider is unaware of. There are good and bad people everywhere however Balkan people are number one trouble makers in Switzerland. It might not be as extreme as what Pakistan has to deal with. But for Swiss standard it is a big issue.

but its ok to select their footballers in your team so you can get some international recognition? How about you sit down and calm the hell down. They had every right to do what they did considering who the Serbians were eulogising in the stands. You should go and do some research and read what these war criminals did during the Balkan wars. If even half of that had happened to your country youd be looking for retribution for a millennium and we wouldnt hear the end of it..

 

[Pakistanian]

[MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION] most swiss wouldn't consider you a swiss, it's one of the most conservative countries in Europe with a strong right wing and they have a highly selective citizenship process.

 

[Markhor]

but its ok to select their footballers in your team so you can get some international recognition? How about you sit down and calm the hell down. They had every right to do what they did considering who the Serbians were eulogising in the stands. You should go and do some research and read what these war criminals did during the Balkan wars. If even half of that had happened to your country youd be looking for retribution for a millennium and we wouldnt hear the end of it..

Let's get the story straight too - Shaqiri wore the Swiss flag on his left boot and to honour where he came from - the Kosovan flag on his right boot.

It was the Serbs who then made a big deal of it by whining and crying so much in the media with Mitrovic (who's a loose cannon anyway) making public remarks.

The eagle celebration after the goals was a response to that. If the Serbs hadn't kicked off about it in the press and whipped their own fans onto a frenzy they wouldn't have celebrated in such a way.

 

[Sidilicious]

Serbians are a mental in any case. But a professional footballer and coach should refrain from nonsense like this on the football pitch or a FIFA press conference.

You can do that in press conferences which are not official or do stuff outside the pitch. No one cares. But you should more class than some numpties in the football stand.

 

[Sirris]

You guys fail to understand a simple concept. Perhaps it has to do with your lack of knowledge about Swiss internal affairs and the emotional aspect of war.

When I said "childish quarrels" I didn't meant the history of Balkan conflict but the recent social media hype regarding the match which heated up the things.

It is not about flags or the like . During Eurocup 2016 Xhaka's mom had an Albanian and Swiss flag during the Swiss vs Albania match. Nobody cared.


I am repeating myself here because people just ignore this point: this kind of celebration after a goal has already been discussed and criticized in the past around 2014 irrespective of the opponent. Because it has nothing to do with Swiss nation whatsoever and is a symbol of Albanian nationalism. It's consider inappropriate by the general public due to various reasons.

 

[Mamoon]

I didn't think it was an issue, but after Sirris put things into perspective, I would probably have been peeved if I were Swiss.

 

[Kroll]

Appreciate the political context to all this. However, it was very poor behaviour indeed, professional footballers shouldn't be rising to the bait.

 

[El Generico]

There is more to this problematic then what an outsider could understand.

I'd like to know how you guys would feel if Pakistani cricket team had an Afghan origin player who after scoring a century would take out an Afghan flag as a mean of celebration.

Can't speak for everyone else but I would have no issue if all they did was celebrate with an Afghan flag.

 

[El Generico]

Roughly 80% Swiss of fans stoped the celebrations when the idiot made that gesture. The win didn't feel like a win. It felt more like a slap on the face of Swiss nation.

Really? That's actually pretty shocking to hear. If its true that 80% of the fans were hurt by those players, would it not make sense to drop them from the next game against Costa Rica?

 

[mani1]

You guys fail to understand a simple concept. Perhaps it has to do with your lack of knowledge about Swiss internal affairs and the emotional aspect of war.

When I said "childish quarrels" I didn't meant the history of Balkan conflict but the recent social media hype regarding the match which heated up the things.

It is not about flags or the like . During Eurocup 2016 Xhaka's mom had an Albanian and Swiss flag during the Swiss vs Albania match. Nobody cared.


I am repeating myself here because people just ignore this point: this kind of celebration after a goal has already been discussed and criticized in the past around 2014 irrespective of the opponent. Because it has nothing to do with Swiss nation whatsoever and is a symbol of Albanian nationalism. It's consider inappropriate by the general public due to various reasons.

What is the Swiss's views on Serb Swiss openly supporting a genocidal savage?

 

[Yossarian]

Really? That's actually pretty shocking to hear. If its true that 80% of the fans were hurt by those players, would it not make sense to drop them from the next game against Costa Rica?

Why just one game? Surely if, as [MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION] seems to think, "The win didn't feel like a win. It felt more like a slap on the face of Swiss nation", then since the players are unlikely to change their feelings regarding their ethnic roots, and will continue to have dual loyalties, then surely they need to be completely banned from the Swiss national team and sent home from the World Cup immediately?

Or better still, if "the win didn't feel like a win..", then the Swiss team should ask the result to be negated and the win awarded to Serbia.

 

[KingKhanWC]

You guys fail to understand a simple concept. Perhaps it has to do with your lack of knowledge about Swiss internal affairs and the emotional aspect of war.

When I said "childish quarrels" I didn't meant the history of Balkan conflict but the recent social media hype regarding the match which heated up the things.

It is not about flags or the like . During Eurocup 2016 Xhaka's mom had an Albanian and Swiss flag during the Swiss vs Albania match. Nobody cared.


I am repeating myself here because people just ignore this point: this kind of celebration after a goal has already been discussed and criticized in the past around 2014 irrespective of the opponent. Because it has nothing to do with Swiss nation whatsoever and is a symbol of Albanian nationalism. It's consider inappropriate by the general public due to various reasons.

I did ask , are the Swiss FA going to ban them? Why are they selected if this is the case?

 

[El Generico]

Why just one game? Surely if, as [MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION] seems to think, "The win didn't feel like a win. It felt more like a slap on the face of Swiss nation", then since the players are unlikely to change their feelings regarding their ethnic roots, and will continue to have dual loyalties, then surely they need to be completely banned from the Swiss national team and sent home from the World Cup immediately?

Or better still, if "the win didn't feel like a win..", then the Swiss team should ask the result to be negated and the win awarded to Serbia.

Good point, [MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION] if this win felt like a slap on the face , would it not make sense to hand the victory to Serbia? What's the point of a victory that has offended 80% of the fans?

 

[El Generico]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GQN28PPUGxE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It could be just me but it sure didn't sound like roughly 80% of Swiss fans stopped celebrating after the gesture.

 

[Yossarian]

No bans. But fined instead. Correct decision.

Switzerland's Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner have avoided bans for their 'double-headed eagle gesture' celebrations in their side's World Cup win over Serbia.

Fifa fined Xhaka and Shaqiri 10,000 Swiss francs (£7,632) and Lichtsteiner SFr5,000 (£3,816) for "unsporting behaviour" for the gesture, which symbolises the Albanian flag.

Xhaka and Shaqiri are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.

Serbian Football Association president Slavisa Kokeza and Serbia head coach Mladen Krstajic were each fined SFr5,000 for their comments after Friday's 2-1 defeat.

Kokeza gave an interview to the BBC in which he accused Fifa, football's world governing body, of bias against his country.

The Serbian FA was also fined SFr54,000 (£41,217) for the behaviour of fans during the game - the display of discriminatory banners and the throwing of objects.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44606965

 

[imrankhannsu]

Given the historical context, Nazi salutes are a bit different to anything else I would say.

The Nazis came close to turning the whole world upside down, with firm plans to rewrite human history and redesign global society so it would never be the same again. There is also the Holocaust factor to consider, wherein Jews and other minorities were systematically exterminated in their millions.

World War Two as a result is totally unique and cannot be compared to any other conflict, just as the Nazi Party is totally unique and cannot be compared to any other political movement.

Nazi salutes are therefore considered completely taboo, over any other political gesture that I can think of, and rightly so too.

That maybe true in the historical context. However my point is ban all celebrations with political messages despite its background.

 

[the Great Khan]

You guys fail to understand a simple concept. Perhaps it has to do with your lack of knowledge about Swiss internal affairs and the emotional aspect of war.

When I said "childish quarrels" I didn't meant the history of Balkan conflict but the recent social media hype regarding the match which heated up the things.

It is not about flags or the like . During Eurocup 2016 Xhaka's mom had an Albanian and Swiss flag during the Swiss vs Albania match. Nobody cared.


I am repeating myself here because people just ignore this point: this kind of celebration after a goal has already been discussed and criticized in the past around 2014 irrespective of the opponent. Because it has nothing to do with Swiss nation whatsoever and is a symbol of Albanian nationalism. It's consider inappropriate by the general public due to various reasons.

No we understand it perfectly fine thank you. You should keep your patronising attitude to yourself thank you very much. Like I suggested earlier if your so called nationalism is so weak that a small gesture to counter clear racism from Serbia gives you a heart attack then perhaps you should be looking at your own national insecurities and not at a bunch of footballers who got a tad too emotional.

 

[Pakpak]

This poster is ribbiting on about the Swiss finding it disrespectul, so here is some news for him

World Cup 2018: Switzerland fans start crowdfunding appeal to pay Fifa fines
witzerland fans have started a crowdfunding appeal to pay the fines imposed on three Swiss players at the World Cup in Russia.

Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner were fined by Fifa for their 'double-headed eagle gesture' celebrations in the win over Serbia.

Xhaka and Shaqiri were fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£7,632) and Lichtsteiner was fined SFr5,000 (£3,816).

The appeal raised more than $16,000 of its $25,000 target within 18 hours.

The gesture made by the players symbolises the Albanian flag, which carries the image of a double-headed eagle.

Xhaka and Shaqiri are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.

The crowdfunding appeal was set up because the trio "brought joy and happiness to all Swiss and Albanians across the globe".

Organisers of the appeal say they will donate the money raised to charity if the Swiss Football Association rejects it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44615958

 

[KingKhanWC]

^ Ooops.

As expected Swiss fans will love their players for winning football matches for them and care little for their celebrations.

 

[Pakpak]

^ Ooops.

As expected Swiss fans will love their players for winning football matches for them and care little for their celebrations.

Trust me noone cares, I was watching some interviews of their fans and the most common response was just a shrug. I also watched videos of their fans celebrating each goal like maniacs

Serbs murdered a lot of innocent people, the details of what they did can make a person lose sleep. Xhaka's father was tortured in a jail for years, imagine if our fathers went through it. I'd probably do worse in my celebration than Xhaka did.

 

[Sirris]

Trust me noone cares, I was watching some interviews of their fans and the most common response was just a shrug. I also watched videos of their fans celebrating each goal like maniacs

Serbs murdered a lot of innocent people, the details of what they did can make a person lose sleep. Xhaka's father was tortured in a jail for years, imagine if our fathers went through it. I'd probably do worse in my celebration than Xhaka did.

You can only fool yourself. Your attempts to convince me of otherwise are ridiculous. Unlike you I am Swiss. I live in the heart of Switzerland and talk to people on a daily basis. Switzerland is more of a home to me than Pakistan. The topic is a public debate and I haven't come across any person irrespective of whether they are ethnic white Swiss or people from immigrant background who didn't think the celebration was dumb and inappropriate. I have talked to Filipinos, Germans, Arabs, Turks, Bengalis and Tamils among others who all support the Swiss national team and all thought it was unnecessary and out of place. I even have Albanian friends who disagreed with the style of celebration but of course most of the Albanians here thought it was justified due to provocation.


The thing I am trying to show you guys is a different perspective on the issue. As an outsider this is the first time you guys heard about the celebration and the issue and all you can concentrate on is the provocation caused by Serbian side, the Balkan war and its brutalities. While I am pointing out that from Swiss perspective it was disgusting to watch too.

Since this kind of celebration has been a hot debate in the past too because the general public feels like that when we as fans are cheering the team we are cheering it because it represent Switzerland. We do have a couple of right-winger lunatics here who claim the team is filled with a bunch of immigrants and isn't "Swiss". The immigrants aren't loyal to Switzerland and are just opportunistic. The right-wingers claim that the "ethnic Swiss" are being discriminated and they have their whole set conspiracy theories to support their argument. Just like a bunch of people in Pakistan have theirs regarding jews and hindus.

However the majority of Swiss people - native or immigrants- don't give a sh*t about what those idiots have to say and still support the team. Irrespective of each players background we are behind the team, we are wearing the jerseys and the whole country is following the match. However when a goal is scored and a bunch of players start celebrating by expressing a particular nationalistic sentiment that's when the majority of fans are left wondering. That's when the trust we gave the players is broken. That's when we feel disconnected from the player's celebration and can't cheer along. That's when the close minded idiots of the society are the loudest and claim victory.

Especially since it was already agreed upon in the past that players will refrain from such celebration. That's why this re-occurrence caused a lot of upset. They could have been the bigger men and refrained from further provocation. If you watch Xhaka's goal closely you will see during the celebration Behrami tried to hide the double-eagle. Behrami himself is an ethnic Albanian but in contrast to the other two he has the brain and understands the situation.

We don't want to live in a society where there is big gap between the natives and the immigrants. We all want to live together as a big family. Unlike the rest of Europe we have a strong economy and the politics isn't going down the gutter. To keep this alive, to keep the trust among the population strong we think it's necessary to listen to one another and respect the sentiments.

You guys are concentrating on how Switzerland should be thankful to these players for providing us with their service. While forgetting that it was Switzerland who gave these players a place to stay, provided them with first class facilities, give them fair chance and support irrespective of their background. These guys are getting their paychecks from us. It's a mutual relationship. No one is asking them to lose their identity and background. All we ask from the players is to respect the sentiment of the public and stop this unnecessary nationalistic chest thumping which has nothing to do with the country they are representing.

In my initial post I might come across as harsh towards the players while providing little context. That's cause at the time I was really upset. But now the incident is a week old and has been discussed to death in the public and everyone has moved along hoping not to see the celebration again while supporting the team.

I do know why many of you feel the need to just blindly support the players action without considering another point of view: it's the "Muslim" connection.

 

[Sirris]

No we understand it perfectly fine thank you. You should keep your patronising attitude to yourself thank you very much. Like I suggested earlier if your so called nationalism is so weak that a small gesture to counter clear racism from Serbia gives you a heart attack then perhaps you should be looking at your own national insecurities and not at a bunch of footballers who got a tad too emotional.

You are willingly ignoring what I have repeatedly said or just cant read properly. This celebration wasn't "a small gesture to counter clear racism from Serbia ". You only came across this issue the first time and in this context. However for Swiss people it has been a matter of discussion a long time ago.

However I agree with you.

All an average outsider knows about Switzerland is bank, chocolate, cheese and mountains. However unlike other big nations of Europe, Switzerland is a unique country with a unique history. Even historically you had 4 different group of people, speaking 4 different languages, forming an alliance and living as one country. Protecting themselves from surrounding big nations like France, Germany and Italy.

In recent years Switzerland too has felt the effects of globalism and multiculturalism. Since it never really had a well defined concept of unified nationalism we are on our way to develop and define a new national identity in accordance to the multicultural society we live in. For this it is necessary that we as people listen to each other, show respect, give trust and affirm our loyalty to the great country we reside in.

The country is only functioning thanks to all the people who reside here and we wish to continue the success and do not want to provide any breeding ground for hate and mistrust.

 

[Sirris]

This poster is ribbiting on about the Swiss finding it disrespectul, so here is some news for him

World Cup 2018: Switzerland fans start crowdfunding appeal to pay Fifa fines
witzerland fans have started a crowdfunding appeal to pay the fines imposed on three Swiss players at the World Cup in Russia.

Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner were fined by Fifa for their 'double-headed eagle gesture' celebrations in the win over Serbia.

Xhaka and Shaqiri were fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£7,632) and Lichtsteiner was fined SFr5,000 (£3,816).

The appeal raised more than $16,000 of its $25,000 target within 18 hours.

The gesture made by the players symbolises the Albanian flag, which carries the image of a double-headed eagle.

Xhaka and Shaqiri are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.

The crowdfunding appeal was set up because the trio "brought joy and happiness to all Swiss and Albanians across the globe".

Organisers of the appeal say they will donate the money raised to charity if the Swiss Football Association rejects it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44615958

What the article doesn't say is that this crowdfunding was initiated by an ethnic Albanian living in the USA. Most people donating are Albanian which is hardly a surprise. It was hardly a topic which the swiss public cared about.

 

[Zaz]

They can now pack their disgusting tshirts and go home The serbs will not be missed

 

[El Generico]

The swiss captain Lichtsteiner did the eagle celebration as well. Is the swiss public upset at him as well? [MENTION=144682]Sirris[/MENTION]

 

[sweep_shot]

European Union Rejects Albanian and North Macedonian Membership Bids

Senior EU officials have reacted angrily after a handful of member states, led by France, blocked Albania and North Macedonia from starting membership talks.

Leaders of the bloc's 28 states spent hours in heated debate over the issue but failed to agree, diplomats said.

The failure came despite a recommendation from the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said it was "a major historic mistake".

"I hope it will only be temporary," he said.

EU Council President Donald Tusk echoed his sentiments, saying: "It's not a failure, it's a mistake. I feel really embarrassed."

Skip Twitter post by @eucopresidentEnd of Twitter post by @eucopresident
At the EU summit, French President Emmanuel Macron led a small number of countries in rejecting the Western Balkan countries from moving forward with their membership bids. He was joined by Denmark and the Netherlands in refusing Albania but France alone rejected North Macedonia. All EU states must agree before approval is given for membership talks to begin.

What did France say?
At a news conference, President Macron said the accession process had to be reformed.

"This is a dispute about vision," he said. "The enlargement rules need reform. We mustn't open accession talks with North Macedonia before Albania - there must be a majority for talks with both, together. We should do more to help those countries develop, not just make pledges."

Before starting membership talks, potential new members of the bloc must demonstrate a range of reforms in areas such as economic policy, human rights, anti-corruption measures and the rule of law. The European Commission said in May that Albania and North Macedonia had both made sufficient progress. Both countries have official "candidate" status in their EU membership bids.

Mr Macron acknowledged that progress had been made but said some areas, such as immigration, needed more work.

There have widespread concerns in the EU about illegal migration via the Balkans, with some countries seen as back-door smuggling routes.

What other reaction was there?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was "disappointment" over the decision but the matter would be revisited before a summit on the Western Balkans early next year.

"It's the French wish to make the accession process more transparent," she said. "There are different assessments of what remains for them to do. Some say the countries haven't done enough. North Macedonia has done a considerable amount. Albania has also achieved a lot, but not enough for EU unanimity."

Mrs Merkel championed North Macedonia's cause earlier this year when it agreed to change its name from Macedonia to settle a row with Greece.

North Macedonian foreign minister Nikola Dimitrov called on the EU to be honest about the prospects for future membership. "The least that the European Union owes the region is to be straightforward with us," he said. "If there is no more consensus on the European future of the Western Balkans, the citizens deserve to know."

The EU's commissioner for enlargement, Johannes Hahn, accused EU leaders of breaking commitments to the two countries. He said member states "now need to clarify how serious their commitment is to the Western Balkans' EU integration".

He tweeted: "To refuse acknowledgement of proven progress will have negative consequences, including the risk of destabilisation of the Western Balkans, with full impact on the EU."

The European Commission sees the integration of Balkan countries as a tool for stabilisation, in a region that was convulsed by conflict in the 1990s.

What happens now?
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he would propose that accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia restart in November. He described the decision as a "historic error".

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel also vowed not to let the matter drop, saying: "We'll see how to get back to this debate later."

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50100201.

 

[sweep_shot]

15 Dead in Serbia After Dam Collapse

At least 15 people have died and 13 others are missing after a dam collapse at a gold mine in Siberia.

The dam, on the Seiba river in the region of Krasnoyarsk, burst after heavy rain on Saturday, flooding cabins where workers lived.

Russia's health ministry said 14 miners were taken to hospital, including three with severe injuries.

A criminal investigation has been opened over allegations the dam violated safety regulations.

"The hydro-technical facility was self-constructed and, I believe, all rules I can and cannot think of were violated," Yuri Lapshin, the head of the Krasnoyarsk regional government, was quoted by RIA news agency as saying.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered officials to provide assistance and investigate the reasons behind the accident, his spokesman has said.

Several small cabins, where workers are thought to have lived, were swept away by the flood waters, the Interfax news agency reported.

The mine was in a remote location about 160km (100 miles) south of the city of Krasnoyarsk, itself some 4,000km (2,500 miles) east of Moscow.

Dozens of emergency workers have been searching for the missing and have been helping the injured.

People are being evacuated from a nearby village of Kuragino because of the raised water levels from the Seiba River and local flooding, Russian media reported.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50108413.

 

[ex-q-zit]

Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare

Serb protesters in northern Kosovo blocked main roads for a second day on Sunday following a nightime exchange of fire with police after the arrest of a former Serb policeman, amid rising tensions between authorities and Kosovo's Serb minority.

In recent weeks Serbs in northern Kosovo, a hotbed of Serb nationalism, have responded with violent resistance to moves by Pristina that they see as anti-Serb.

EULEX, the European Union mission tasked with patrolling northern Kosovo, said a stun grenade was thrown on one of its armoured vehicles on Saturday evening, but no one was injured.

Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, warned the bloc will not tolerate violence against members of its mission.

"#EU will not tolerate attacks on @EULEXKosovo or use of violent, criminal acts in the north. Barricades must be removed immediately by groups of Kosovo Serbs. Calm must be restored," he wrote on Twitter.

The latest protests were triggered by the arrest of a former police officer on Saturday. He was part of a mass resignation of Serbs from the force last month, after Pristina said it would require Serbs to scrap Serbian license plates dating to before the 1998-99 Kosovo War that led to independence.

For a second day on Sunday, trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles blocked several main roads leading to two border crossings with Serbia. Both crossings were closed for traffic.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asked NATO's mission KFOR to remove the barricades.

"We call KFOR to guarantee the freedom of movement (and remove roadblocks)...KFOR is asking for more time to finish this ... so we are waiting," Kurti said.

Late on Saturday Kosovo police said they came under fire in different locations close to a lake bordering Serbia. The force said it had to return fire in self-defence. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

EU PLAN IN DANGER

Police in Pristina said former policeman Dejan Pantic was arrested for allegedly attacking state offices, smashing the windows of the election commission offices, and police officers and election officials on Tuesday.

Serb mayors in northern Kosovo municipalities, along with local judges and some 600 police officers, resigned last month in protest over a government decision to replace Belgrade-issued car licence plates with ones issued by Pristina.

On his Instagram page, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said "there will be no surrender," in Kosovo, but added Belgrade "will continue the fight with all legal means, for peace."

On Saturday, Vucic said Belgrade would ask KFOR to let Serbia deploy troops and police in Kosovo, although he acknowledged there was no chance of permission being granted.

"We do not seek conflict, but dialogue and peace. But let me be clear: the Republic of Kosovo will defend itself - forcefully and decisively," Kurti said in response to Vucic's comments.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with the backing of the West, following the 1998-99 war in which NATO intervened to protect Albanian-majority Kosovo.

Last July local Serbs set up barricades to object to a decision that would oblige them to apply for documents and car license plates issued by Kosovan institutions.

Kosovo and Serbia are holding talks in Brussels to try to normalise relations and the EU has already presented a plan.

Reuters

 

[MenInG]

HISINAU (Reuters) - Serbia needs to stop its activities aimed at destabilising Kosovo in order to end the violence in the north of the country, Kosovo's president Vjosa Osmani said on Thursday.

"The challenge comes from Serbia, a country that still needs to come to terms with its past," Osmani told Reuters on the sidelines of a European summit in Moldova.

"The situation is tense, but we need to make sure that we restore rule of law in Kosovo and understand that the threat is coming from Serbia's denial of Kosovo's existence as a sovereign state."

Osmani said Serbia was actively supporting "illegal structures" in Kosovo to destabilise the country from within.

"President Vucic needs to stop supporting criminal gangs if he truly wants peace," she said. "He is yet to show that."

 

[KingKhanWC]

Nato are now using Kosovo to cause a war with Serbia as they are getting a good hiding by Russia in Ukraine.

Europe could explode at any moment.

 

[Markhor]

Nato are now using Kosovo to cause a war with Serbia as they are getting a good hiding by Russia in Ukraine.

Europe could explode at any moment.

The Serbs should shut their traps. They are complaining because they're demanding autonomy for Northern Kosovo where most of the Serbs live.

However these demands are hypocritical coming from them when their criminal leader Milosevic stripped Kosovo of its autonomy in 1989 and began the breakup of Yugoslavia.

These peacekeepers need to get a grip and not let these thugs get away.

 

[KingKhanWC]

The Serbs should shut their traps. They are complaining because they're demanding autonomy for Northern Kosovo where most of the Serbs live.

However these demands are hypocritical coming from them when their criminal leader Milosevic stripped Kosovo of its autonomy in 1989 and began the breakup of Yugoslavia.

These peacekeepers need to get a grip and not let these thugs get away.

I think both sides need to calm down but this was always a playing card for Nato for the future, when it would help them out. After all these years, Kosovo isnt seen as an official nation.

Milosevic was allowed to commit those crimes, Nato on purpose came too late after so many were butchered.

 

[rpant_gabba]

I think both sides need to calm down but this was always a playing card for Nato for the future, when it would help them out. After all these years, Kosovo isnt seen as an official nation.

Is NATO the good guys in helping Kosovo or Russia the good supporting Serbia

Milosevic was allowed to commit those crimes, Nato on purpose came too late after so many were butchered.

Is this an opinion or first hand knowledge? So Russia and NATO were collaborating with Serbia? Was NATO correct in turning against Serbia? Was Russia the good guys in helping suppress Kosovo?

Awfully confusing.