Fines for Swiss trio over goal celebrations

Moscow, June 26: The Swiss trio of Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner have been collectively fined fined over $25,000 by FIFA and warned over “unsporting behaviour contrary to the principals of fair play,” following their celebrations in Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Serbia in their group stage match. Both Shaqiri and Xhaka celebrated their goals on Friday by making a hand gesture mirroring the eagle on the Albanian flag, which can be considered to be a nationalist symbol linked to Kosovo and Albania and risks creating political tension with the Serbs, who do not recognise Kosovo’s independence. The trip had been charged under Article 54 of FIFA’s disciplinary code which states “anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned with a minimum fine of 5,000 Swiss Francs ($5,063).” IANS