FLASH
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Just a few months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, another debate has reopened in Switzerland regarding footballers of Albanian origin and the "eagle" symbol. The spotlight has once again been placed on the captain of the Swiss national team, Granit Xhaka.
On Saturday, Switzerland's players watched the San Diego Padres and New York Mets baseball game in the United States. During the broadcast, cameras focused on the Swiss players in the stands, and at that moment Xhaka made the double-headed eagle symbol with his hands. The gesture was also repeated by defender Ricardo Rodriguez, who imitated the team captain.
The footage has sparked reactions and discussions in the Swiss media, bringing back memories of the 2018 World Cup controversies. Back then, the celebrations of Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stefan Lichtsteiner after the match against Serbia caused great sporting and political tensions, resulting in the resignation of the secretary of the Swiss Football Federation.
This time, the Swiss Federation has tried to downplay the incident and clarify the context of the event.
" And in the friendly against Australia in San Diego, many people of Albanian origin were in the stadium and loudly supported Granit and the Swiss team. Granit Xhaka, like many other players, stopped after the match for autographs and selfies. In the evening, he took the opportunity to greet the Albanian community again. This scene did not happen on the field and was not part of the sporting event ," said Federation spokesman Adrian Arnold.
Despite official clarifications, Xhaka's gesture has reignited the debate over the use of national symbols by footballers of Albanian origin representing Switzerland, a topic that continues to remain sensitive in Swiss public opinion.
Lors de la visite du stade de baseball : Xhaka et Rodriguez posent avec l'aigle bicéphale.
— AI_Ascendant (@AI_Ascendant) June 8, 2026
L'humiliation de notre pays continues. @kolly_francois https://t.co/VpdgElM6pL pic.twitter.com/AynmpWUACo
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