Swiss trio face suspension

MOSCOW (AP):

Despite goal celebrations seen as inflaming political tensions with Serbia, the head of Switzerland's football federation said yesterday he doesn't expect FIFA to suspend his players.

FIFA has added a third Swiss player - captain Stephan Lichtsteiner - to an investigation of both scorers in a 2-1 win who made hand gestures of a two-headed eagle that is an Albanian national symbol. Lichtsteiner also made the gesture during the match.

Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri have ethnic Albanian heritage linked to Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. Serbia doesn't recognise that independence.

A strict reading of FIFA's rules suggests the key trio in Switzerland's starting line-up could be ruled out until the quarter-finals.

"Anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches," the FIFA disciplinary code states.

FIFA's disciplinary panel could impose only a fine and warning before Switzerland plays Costa Rica on Wednesday. The Swiss need a draw to reach the Round of 16.

"I don't have any concerns," Swiss federation president Peter Gillieron said yesterday in an interview published by Swiss news website 20 Minutes.

Gillieron said he expected a quick decision from FIFA's judicial body, and the country could be proud of a team which has four points from two games.

Both the Switzerland and Serbia teams played down any political factors before the game last Friday. Shaqiri had posted a photograph on Instagram of his playing boots, one with a Switzerland flag on the heel and the other with a Kosovo flag.

FIFA rules prohibit political gestures by players or fans, and let the disciplinary panel act on "serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention."