Switzerland pair Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri face two-match bans for their goal celebrations in their side's World Cup victory over Serbia.

Football's world governing body Fifa is investigating whether they broke rules on political and offensive messages.

Both players are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population only ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.

They made 'double eagle' gestures after scoring, symbolising the Albanian flag.

The country's flag carries the image of a double-headed eagle.

On Saturday, Fifa confirmed its disciplinary committee had opened proceedings against Xhaka and Shaqiri, adding: "In relation to the same match, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Serbian FA for crowd disturbance and the display of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans.

After the game, which his side won 2-1, Switzerland's Bosnia-born manager Vladimir Petkovic was asked about the celebrations and said: "You should never mix football and politics. It's important to be a fan, and to give respect.

"It was a wonderful atmosphere and that's what support should be about."

Arsenal midfielder Xhaka's father spent three and a half years as a political prisoner in Yugoslavia, while Shaqiri was born in Yugoslavia before emigrating to Switzerland as a child.

Stoke City forward Shaqiri also sported a Kosovan flag, stitched onto his boots.

"It's just emotion," he said about his celebration. "I'm very happy to score this goal. It's not more. I think we don't have to speak about this now."

Source: BBC Online

BDST: 1950 HRS, JUN 24, 2018
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