EAGLE-EYED football fans claim to have seen Xherdan Shaqiri's pubic hair during Switzerland’s win over Serbia. It’s been said the Stoke star showed a little more than intended while celebrating a late winner for the Swiss on Friday night. 1 Eagle-eyed fans claim to have caught a glimpse of Xherdan Shaqiri's pubic hair Shaqiri scored a sublime solo effort before peeling away to celebrate in front of supporters. He took off his shirt and flexed the muscles in his body while also performing the ‘Albanian Eagle’ move. But some believe they caught a glimpse of his nether regions in the process. One person wrote on Twitter: “Did Shaqiri really need to get his pubic hair out?” Did shaqiri really need to get his pubes out? — Oscar (@Not_Pistorius) June 22, 2018 Why's Shaqiri getting his pubes out?! — Æ n d y (@AndyNipples) June 22, 2018 Another said: “Why’s Shaqiri getting his pubes out? !” One wrote: “Shaqiri showing off some pubes.” Another quipped: “Shaqiri should get a red for showing off his pubes.” One tweeted: “Did Shaqiri celebrate by flashing his pubes?” Switzerland stars Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri do Albanian Eagle celebrations towards Serbia fans Latest World Cup news UP FOR THE CUP World Cup could be held every TWO years after Fifa backs controversial plans EURO BLOW Southgate fears Super League will hurt England plans with players facing BANS BEST OF REST Messi & Ronaldo among European Super League best XI facing BAN from World Cup EUR OUT European Super League players could be BANNED from World Cups and national teams FOOTIE FEST Eden Park to stage 2023 Women’s World Cup opener with final set for Australia YOUR TIMO'S UP Watch Chelsea’s Werner miss SITTER in shock Germany loss to North Macedonia Shaqiri showing off some pubes — Johnny Pee Tape (@Jonny_Pee_Tape) June 22, 2018 Shaqiri should get a red for showing off his pubes. #SERSUI — The Pendelorian (@thisismattyp) June 22, 2018 Most Read In Sport CRYING BRU Fernandes breaks down in tears as Scholes slams Utd stars who 'accept losing' Revealed FLOP GEA De Gea let in 38th CONSECUTIVE penalty before missing own spot-kick in shootout Live Blog MAN UTD 1 (10) VILLARREAL 1 (11) Penalties heartbreak for United as De Gea misses in epic Exclusive THREE-PEAT De Bruyne has been nursing THREE injuries in build-up to Champions League final MAN UTD VERDICT Solskjaer blew chance to end trophy drought & it won't get easier than this Live Blog FOOTBALL NEWS LIVE Zidane QUITS Real Madrid, Antonio Conte leaves Inter Milan Another noted: “Shaqiri scores… then proceeds to get his pubes out.” One observed: “Jesus. Shaqiri celebrates the winner by showing us his pubes.” Another added: “Not a fan of Shaqiri getting his pubes out on the biggest stage in world football, I must admit.” Did Shaqiri celebrate by flashing his pubes? — Ian Jenkins (@jenkofc) June 22, 2018 Shaqiri scores... then proceeds to get his pubes out 😐 — Daz (@Dazzcarr) June 22, 2018 Jesus. Shaqiri celebrates the winner by showing us his pubes. — Dave (@davevoetbal) June 22, 2018<doc-sep>Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka both celebrated by making a nationalist symbol to their Albanian heritage in Switzerland's 2-1 victory over Serbia on Friday at the World Cup. After scoring in the win, both players put their open hands together with their thumbs locked and fingers outstretched to make what looks like the double-headed eagle displayed on Albania's national flag. Shaqiri was born in Kosovo, the former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, while Xhaka's parents are originally from Kosovo and they are of Albanian heritage. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence and relations between the two countries remain tense, though Serbian players did not react to the eagle gestures. Stoke midfielder Shaqiri was asked about the celebration after the game, and put it down to pure emotion in the moment. Image: Shaqiri scored in the 90th minute after Switzerland had been behind "I think about this, I don't want to speak," said Shaqiri, who also took off his shirt after scoring. "In football, you have always emotions. "You can see what I did, and it's just emotion, and I'm just happy to have scored the goal. I did it, and we don't have to speak about this." Serbian coach Mladen Krstajic refused to talk about the celebrations after the game. Image: Granit Xhaka celebrates his equaliser in similar fashion "I don't have any comments," Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic said. "I don't deal with these things. I am a man of sports, and this is what I'm going to stay being." In the tournament's first come-from-behind victory, Xhaka made it 1-1 in the 52nd minute with a powerful shot through a crowded penalty area, before Shaqiri added the other in the 90th minute after running clear of the Serbian defence. "You should never mix politics and football," Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said. "You should always show respect. It's a wonderful atmosphere and a positive experience and that's what football should be about."<doc-sep>Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Granit Xhaka's and Xherdan Shaqiri were both delighted in getting on the score sheet in Switzerland's dramatic 2-1 win over Serbia on Friday. The duo wheeled away in elation and, upon first glance, appeared to pull off some rather harmless hand gesture to commemorate the moment. But in reality there is a deeper meaning to what the gesture actually means, as our friends over at football.london have explained. Switzerland's squad has a diverse make-up with a number of players holding dual nationality or having roots elsewhere. Shaqiri for example wore boots donning both the Swiss and Kosovan flag. As he noted: "I was born in Kosovo, but I grew up in Switzerland. I live both mentalities, it's not a big difference." (Image: REX/Shutterstock) However, such connotations are not quite as simple as that when you consider that Kosovo is not recognised as independent from Serbia by the nation, and the appearance of such a flag could be considered provocative. Both Shaqiri - who speaks Albanian - and Xhaka formed their hands into what is generally considered to be an eagle - the symbol of Albanian flag. The Arsenal midfielder is the younger brother of Taulant Xhaka who plays for Albania and was actually born in Serbia to Albanian parents. (Image: REX/Shutterstock) Serbia's relationship with Albania is problematic in itself and perhaps especially so for Xhaka. In 2014 when Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in 2014, for the first meeting of it's sorts since 1947, tempers arose as the Albanian PM said that Kosovo's independence was 'undeniable' and was consequently accused of provocation. With the undertone of angst between Albanian/Kosovan ancestry and Serbia, the relationship only becomes more poignant when you consider the midfielder's father spent three and half years imprisoned for taking part in demonstrations against Serbia's communist government during the 80s. (Image: REX/Shutterstock) On Instagram Xhaka made the connection to his celebration very clear. A second image said 'We did it bro' with an image of both Xhaka's and Shaqiri's celebration side by side. The pair could land themselves in trouble for the celebrations however due to the political connotations. FIFA rules state that players will be punished for such statements made in celebration.<doc-sep>A celebration with a history: The double eagles of Xhaka and Shaqiri against Serbia FIFA World Cup 2018 Swiss players made the same gesture For Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, the match against Serbia was the game of their lives, and the way that both celebrated their goals sent a real message to their opponent. The two Swiss internationals, of Albanian origin, turned the game around with strikes they will never forget. Xhaka's father was a political prisoner for three and a half years in the former Yugoslavia, and after leaving prison, his parents went into exile in Switzerland, where he was born in 1992. Shaqiri was born a year earlier in the Kosovan city of Gnjilane. Serbia-Albania suspended... because of a drone! In 1992, his parents also left their homeland to settle in Switzerland, in the middle of the Balkan war. Both made the double Albanian eagle with their hands when scoring, in a celebration full of symbolism and dedicated to their loved ones. The old wounds between Serbia and Albania also saw an incident in 2014 during a qualifying match for Euro 2016. That game was suspended due to a feud between the players, the launching of firecrackers and flares from the stands and an attempt to invade the field by Serbian fans after the emergence of a drone with a flag of Greater Albania.<doc-sep>
Both Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri celebrated their goals for Switzerland against Serbia on Friday by making a nationalist symbol of Albania in a gesture likely to inflame tensions among Serb nationalists and ethnic Albanians. Switzerland rallied to beat Serbia 2-1 at the World Cup, but Albania's national flag was at the centre of attention. Xhaka and Shaqiri, both of ethnic Albanian heritage, put their open hands together with their thumbs locked and fingers outstretched to make what looks like the double-headed eagle displayed on Albania's flag. The thumbs represent the heads of the two eagles, while the fingers look like the feathers. The players could face punishment if FIFA decides they were making a political statement. Shaqiri declined to discuss the matter after the game. "I think about this, I don't want to speak," Shaqiri said. "In football, you have always emotions. You can see what I did, and it's just emotion, and I'm just happy to have scored the goal. I did it, and we don't have to speak about this." Shaqiri was born in Kosovo, the former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. Serbia doesn't recognize Kosovo's independence and relations between the two countries remain tense. Xhaka's parents are originally from Kosovo and they are of Albanian heritage. His brother plays for Albania's national team. Years of war in the Balkans sent many families to western European countries, including Switzerland. The Swiss have dozens of ethnic Albanians in their national football program. Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic hoped the gestures wouldn't detract from the team's performance. "You should never mix politics and football. You should always show respect,'' Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said. "It's a wonderful atmosphere and a positive experience and that's what football should be about." In the tournament's first come-from-behind victory, Xhaka made it 1-1 in the 52nd minute with a powerful shot through a crowded penalty area. Shaqiri added the other in injury time after running past the Serbian defense. Serbia's players did not react to the eagle gestures at Kaliningrad Stadium. "I don't have any comments," Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic said. "I don't deal with these things. I am a man of sports, and this is what I'm going to stay being."