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Switzerland trio escape bans for 'eagle gesture' goal celebrations

Swiss trio avoid bans for 'eagle gestures'
© Reuters
Switzerland's Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner avoid bans over the "unsporting" gestures they made during the win over Serbia.

Switzerland internationals Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner will not be suspended for performing "double eagle gesture" celebrations during their side's 2-1 win over Serbia at the World Cup finals.

The trio were fined by FIFA for their goal celebrations, which were dubbed "unsporting" because the gesture symbolises the national flag of Serbia's bitter rivals Albania but, according to BBC Sport, will not be banned.

Xhaka and Shaqiri are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and their celebratory gestures were said to have evoked the hostilities between the two nations.

Serbia Football Association president Slavisa Kokeza and Serbia head coach Mladen Krstajic were both fined for comments they made to the press in the wake of the heated encounter, with the former accusing FIFA of bias towards the nation.

The Serbian FA was also fined for the conduct of its travelling supporters during the match, which included bottles being thrown and discriminatory banners being displayed.

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Xherdan Shaqiri in action for Switzerland on June 8, 2018
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Monday, July 1
 
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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