BERN: Switzerland’s Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has attached as “stone age” reported comments by the federation’s general secretary over the controversial of so-called “bi-national” players.
The issue exploded over the World Cup finals in Russia after three Swiss players, included Xhaka, were fined and cautioned by governing body FIFA for a ‘double-eagle’ goal celebration against Serbia.
That gesture represented an Albanian symbol expressing the Albanian/Kosovar background of several players whose families fled the Balkans for Switzerland after the fighting following the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
The Swiss federation has issued a subsequent statement claiming that comments apparently proposing tighter regulations over bi-national players by secretary-general Alex Miescher had been mispresented by the media.
Xhaka said: “He has disappointed me and other dual citizens. The interview quickly made the rounds for the national team. Even during the World Cup and after my double-headed eagle, Alex came up to us and assured him that he would do anything to protect us – and then three days after we left, he made such statements.
“I gather now that he does not trust double citizens to stand up for Switzerland. This is directly opposite to the attitudes of myself and others with two nationalities. It sounds to me as if I and my colleagues in Swiss colours would not go to the limit. Shortly after we have suffered a bitter defeat in Russia at the World Cup, you just do not do that.
“We are all Swiss and do everything for the Swiss Nati – each of us – because we all know and are grateful for what Switzerland has done for us and our families.
“My family roots are in Kosovo – as with Breel Embolo in Cameroon, Manuel Akanji in Nigeria and Ricardo Rodriguez in Chile and Spain. The Swiss national team consists anyway of 50 to 60pc double citizens or secondos.
“Even our boss (Vladimir Petkovic) is a dual citizen and has given blood and sweat to the national team. I think Alex Miescher has caused a lot of disappointment. These are Stone Age comments, which target Swiss dual citizens. ”
The Swiss federation, seeking to cool the tension, issued a statement issuing “regrets about an impression that it was opposed to bi-national players.”
It added: “Swiss footballers, as well as the players who took part in the World Cup, and who gave everything for Switzerland, have always been given the support of the ASF when there was a debate on identification.”
However it noted : “The ASF wishes to better support the players who play with the Swiss national junior teams, but at the age of 22, these bi-national players are often put under considerable pressure because they have the opportunity to play for another country – and possibly against Switzerland.”
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