Serbia to demand Federation Internationale de Football Association punishment for Shaqiri & Xhaka over eagle celebrations

Petkovic paid tribute to the Switzerland fans for the backing they gave their team despite being outnumbered by Serbia supporters, and picked out Granit Xhaka’s equalising goal as the turning point in the game.

Shaqiri was born in Kosovo before it declared independence in 2008, something Serbia fails to recognise.

Both scorers grew up in Switzerland but are of ethnic Albanian origin.

Switzerland’s never-say-die attitude and will to win was the key to turning around a match in which they had been pummelled by Serbia for much of the first half, Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said.

The big, old fashioned striker, who plays his club football for Fulham (on loan from Newcastle) used his height and power to good advantage to make the early statement of intent as his side continued to press.

Xherdan Shaqiri refused to be drawn into a political discussion after making a gesture evoking the Albanian flag following his game-winning goal for Switzerland against Serbia. If the two teams end up with identical goal difference and goals scored, Switzerland would go through on the basis of head-to-head, thanks to Shaqiri’s goal.

Both players are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population only ended with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military intervention in 1999. Replying to the criticism about the celebration, Xhaka said that it was for the people, his supporter, his homeland, and for his parent’s root, and claimed that the celebration was purely emotional.

Albania and Serbia have had poor relations for hundreds of years, but particularly in recent times as a result of the Kosovan conflict in the 1990s.

But the the Football Federation of Serbia clearly think differently, with general secretary Jovan Surbatovic confirming that they will complain to FIFA about the celebrations, Shaqiri’s boots and their failure to be awarded a penalty in the second half.

Switzerland held World Cup favourites Brazil to a shock draw last week and Manchester United midfielder Matic expects them to provide another tough challenge for Serbia.

“Politics shouldn’t be mixed in with sports”, said Stefan Gabrilovic, a Serbia supporter who lives in Australia.

The duo both displayed an Albanian double eagle with their hands, something which may prompt Federation Internationale de Football Association to take some action against the pair. “It’s very important that we have these three points in the bag, but it’s not over, Switzerland will be the hardest match”, he said.

If found guilty, the duo will miss the tie against Costa Rica and their round 16 match should they qualify.

Shaqiri had been booed relentlessly by Serbia fans throughout a high-quality match, but the Stoke City forward had the last laugh with his last ditch victor.