FIFA rejects Serb call for Kosovo-flagged Shaqiri shoe

Serbian Football Federation Secretary-General (FSF) Jovan Shurbatovic has said they were sent FIFA's a letter telling them that they will not stand out on the ground against Switzerland unless Gerdan Shaqiri changes his shoe on Kosovo's flag.

Switzerland's super-attacker, which comes from Jedra of Gjilan, has Switzerland's flag on one shoe, the place it represents, while on the other it has the Kosovo flag from which it comes.

That fact had irritated the FSF so much, who told FIFA officials they wouldn't show up on the ground if Shaqiri didn't change his shoes.

The one that irritated us the most was that during training sessions we noticed that one of their players, namely, Shaqiri, carried the flag of so-called Kosovo. We have reacted, even threatened, we have said we will not go out on the ground and play the game if he doesn't change his” shoes, Shurbatovic said of B92, Coha.net broadcasts.

However, FIFA officials did not understand Serbian demand.

“There was no reaction, while we insisted again, we wrote down several emails, we had direct contact with people from FIFA's office, and finally, before the start of the match, we accepted the announcement that this was allowed according to FIFA regulations because that state, Kosovo, is a full-fledged member of them and that footballers can express their national feelings”, Shurbatovic stressed.

Therefore, as B92, Serbian players have yet to appear on the ground, while continuing to criticise German Judge Felix Brych's judgments.