Fines for Swiss trio over goal celebrations
Tuesday - June 26, 2018 1:58 pm ,
Category : SPORTS
Fines for Swiss trio over goal celebrations
Moscow June 26 (IANS) 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 reports Xinhua news agency.
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)."
In the end Shaqiri and Xhaka were fined 10 000 Swiss Francs ($10 126) each and Lichtsteiner 5 000 Francs ($5 063) but escaped a ban.
Meanwhile the Serbian Football Federation were also fined 54 000 Swiss Francs ($54 681) for "discriminatory banners and messages by Serbian supporters as well as for throwing objects."
The President of the Federation was fined a further 5 000 Francs (5 063) for an interview in which he said referees were "directed" by FIFA to oppose Serbia and team coach Mladen Krstijac.
--IANS tri/vm
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 reports Xinhua news agency.
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)."
In the end Shaqiri and Xhaka were fined 10 000 Swiss Francs ($10 126) each and Lichtsteiner 5 000 Francs ($5 063) but escaped a ban.
Meanwhile the Serbian Football Federation were also fined 54 000 Swiss Francs ($54 681) for "discriminatory banners and messages by Serbian supporters as well as for throwing objects."
The President of the Federation was fined a further 5 000 Francs (5 063) for an interview in which he said referees were "directed" by FIFA to oppose Serbia and team coach Mladen Krstijac.
--IANS tri/vm
