What is the Albanian Eagle celebration and which players have used it previously?

THE ALBANIAN EAGLE celebration has previously caused outrage when performed by current Switzerland squad members Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri.

But what does the gesture mean, as the Swiss prepare to take on Cameroon in their opening World Cup 2022 clash in Qatar.

What is the Albanian Eagle?

Both Xhaka and Shaqiri celebrated their goals for Switzerland in their 2-1 win over Serbia by making the nationalist symbol of their ethnic Albanian heritage.

The players put their open hands together to look like a double-headed eagle – like the one displayed on the Albanian flag.

Shaqiri also wore boots bearing the flags of both Switzerland and Kosovo and was jeered by Serbian fans throughout the game.

And German-Albanian defender Shkodran Mustafi repeated the celebration in solidarity with the players during Arsenal’s win at Cardiff.

Why is it controversial?

FIFA are coming under pressure from Serbia to charge the goalscorers for their celebrations – with them demanding a two-match ban which is laid down by FIFA regulations.

Shaqiri was born in Kosovo (a former Serbian province which declared independence in 2008).

Serbia do not recognise Kosovo’s independence and relations remain tense with many families choosing to move to other European counties including Switzerland.

What did Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka say about the gesture?

Speaking to reporters after the game, Shaqiri said: “You can see what I did and I think it’s just emotion. I’m very happy to score this goal. It was nothing more than that. I think we don’t have to speak about this now.”;

Xhaka, said: “Frankly, my opponents did not interest me at all.

“It was for my people, who always supported me. For those who did not neglect me, in my homeland, where my parents’ roots are. These were purely pure emotions.”;

Were Xhaka and Shaqiri punished for the celebration?

Xhaka and Shaqiri were fined £7,630 each for the Albanian Eagle celebration, which was dubbed “unsportsmanlike conduct”; by Fifa.

But they escaped a ban for “provocative gestures”;, which was called for by the Serbian FA.

Captain Stefan Lichtsteiner was also fined £3,824 for making the gesture after Shaqiri’s winner.