Euro 2024: UEFA imposes fines on Albania and Serbia for nationalist fan banners
The controversy erupted when Albanian fans unveiled a banner depicting a map with Albania's borders extending into the territories of neighbouring countries.
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.
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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).”
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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.
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