November 5 – Liverpool have left Xherdan Shaqiri out of their squad to face Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday because they want to “avoid any distractions” that may be caused by the midfielder’s Albanian heritage.
Shaqiri, an ethnic Albanian of Kosovan heritage, scored the winning goal for Switzerland when they beat Serbia 2-1 at the World Cup in June and celebrated with a gesture that appeared to imitate the eagle displayed on Albania’s flag and for which he was fined CHF 10,000 by FIFA.
Serbia refuses to recognise the independence of its former province Kosovo, whose 1.8 million people are mostly ethnic Albanians.
“We have heard and read the speculation and talk about what kind of reception Shaq would receive,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp told the club website. “Although we have no idea what would happen, we want to go there and be focused 100% on football and not have to think about anything else.”
Shaqiri, who started in Liverpool’s 4-0 home win over Red Star in the corresponding fixture last month, was still a child when his family emigrated to Switzerland. Speaking last month about the reception he could have receive in Belgrade, he said: “I had this already at the World Cup so I know I can handle this no problem. It is not about politics, it is about football. I worry about nothing and go to play.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713863213labto1713863213ofdlr1713863213owedi1713863213sni@w1713863213ahsra1713863213w.wer1713863213dna1713863213