When Switzerland faced Serbia in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, it was the first time the two nations had met on the football field. But before their second meeting in Qatar By Friday, the match had already become something of a political grudge match.
To the casual observer, it may not be immediately clear what the problem might be between the small, infamous and non-antagonistic Alpine confederation and the former dominant power of the former Yugoslavia.
However, the two countries are more closely linked than one might think, as Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri made clear when they both celebrated their goals in Switzerland’s 2-1 victory in Kaliningrad by making eagle gestures with their hands – a reference to the double-headed eagle on the national flag of Albania.
Like around 5% of the Swiss population, Xhaka and Shaqiri, captain and vice-captain respectively of the national team, are both of Kosovar origin. Kosovoformer province of Yugoslavia with an Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognized by the vast majority of United Nations member states – and by FIFA.
Controversial flag
Belgrade, however, considers it a Serbian province.just like Russian President Vladimir Putin and the unknown person responsible for hanging a nationalist flag in the Serbian dressing room before the 2022 World Cup opening match against Brazil last Thursday.
The flag, which was also photographed outside the iconic Lusail stadium, showed a map of Serbia including the Republic of Kosovo in Serbian national colors, emblazoned with the slogan: Nema predaje – “never surrender.”
FIFA has opened an investigation into the Serbian football federation following a request from the Kosovo football federation, whose secretary general, Taulant Hodaj, told DW that the flag represented “a message of hatred and aggression towards Kosovo.”
Tweeting the image, Kosovo’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hajrulla Ceku, interpreted the flag as “hateful, xenophobic and genocidal.”
Switzerland: “It’s all about football”
Relations between Serbs, Kosovars and Albanians have been strained since the 1990s, when, following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and subsequent wars, hundreds of thousands of Kosovo Albanians were forced to flee the Serbian regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
Thousands of people, including the Xhaka and Shaqiri families, have settled in Switzerland and become Swiss citizens. In 2021, around 114,800 additional Kosovars (defined by Swiss authorities as not having Swiss nationality or dual nationality) live in the country – but they have not forgotten their Balkan roots.
However, when Switzerland faces Serbia On Friday, seeking a point to qualify for the knockout stages – or a win in the event of Cameroon’s unlikely win against Brazil – Xhaka keeps his eyes glued to football.
“I’m a professional,” said the Arsenal midfielder. “Whether we play Cameroon, Brazil or Serbia, it’s the same game for me.”
A request to the Swiss Football Association whether specific instructions would be given regarding behavior during the match went unanswered, but head coach Murat Yakin told reporters: “Tomorrow it’s all about football and That’s what will count.”
The Serbian Football Federation has yet to comment on the matter, while the players have also denied any responsibility.
“I don’t know where the flag comes from,” said central defender Stefan Mitrovic. “We are here to play football and nothing else,” added midfielder Marko Grujic.
Defender Milos Veljkovic, in front of whose jersey the banner was hung, plays for Werder Bremen, Bundesliga teama spokesperson told the local online portal Deichstube that Veljkovic only discovered the photo after the match and that the flag was not hanging there when the players returned to the locker room after the warm-up.
Bad blood
The Kosovo Football Federation is not convinced, with general secretary Hodaj saying: “FIFA’s strict regulations mean that only players and officials – the so-called red card holders – have access (to the changing rooms). “
After the match in Russia four years ago, the Serbian delegation was less guarded in their reaction, with then head coach Mladen Krstajic lashing out at German referee Felix Brych for not awarding penalty to his team.
“I would send him to The Hague and try him, like they did to us,” he said, drawing rather scandalous parallels with the Serbs convicted of war crimes by the UN International Criminal Tribunal. United in the 1990s and 2000s.
Krstajic was fined 5,000 Swiss francs (€5,075/$5,285), as was former Serbian Football Federation president Slavisa Kokeza. For their part, Xhaka and Shaqiri were each fined 10,000 Swiss francs (10,150 euros) by FIFA for “unsporting behavior”.
“In April, the FA, the president and the general secretary agreed that we would only talk about sport here, and that also goes for the players,” Swiss head coach Yakin said ahead of the rematch on Friday. “We respect the players, and they are respectful too.”
A World Cup dominated more than ever by matters off the field, that remains to be seen.
Edited by: James Thorogood
