“Serbian police will be ready for Granit Xhaka”

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Actually, at the start of the 2024 European Championship campaign, the focus should be on enjoying football. But in the days leading up to Saturday night’s first qualifying match between Belarus and Switzerland in Novi Sad, political issues weigh on the sporting atmosphere.

The national team plays against a team from a country that helps in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. And that in a country that, due to the past, causes a mental stress situation among the players with Kosovar roots in the national team.

Xherdan Shaqiri is spared the trip to Belgrade due to an injury. Granit Xhaka is now the sole focus. In the past, Nati’s captain has repeatedly tampered with Serbian players and posted political messages.

Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 in mind

The images of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when Switzerland celebrated the 2-1 victory with the sign of the Albanian double-headed eagle, are still in the memories of the population. “People still see Xhaka and Shaqiri as the ones provoking the Serbian players,” said Predrag Mihailovic, editor-in-chief of Sportal.rs in Belgrade. “Xhaka and Shaqiri are not only football players, but are also seen as political figures because they have already expressed their political beliefs.”

The memories of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are even fresher, when there was great turbulence for the national team on their way to a 3-2 win. Right in the middle: Granit Xhaka, who grabbed his crotch while looking at the Serbian bench and later donned Ardon Jashari’s shirt.

In Serbia, this message pointed to the slain Kosovo freedom fighter Adem Jashari. Before his death in 1998, he was considered a commander and a symbol of resistance in the struggle for independence.

Xhaka’s action caused waves in Serbia. “The football story between Serbia and Switzerland has been very eventful in recent years,” says Mihailovic, adding: “The political situation is now such that Serbia is in talks with the EU about the status of Kosovo. It is a very painful issue for the Serbian people.”

Depressed mood after early World Cup away

Despite all the explosiveness, Mihailovic believes that Xhaka need not worry when he arrives in Belgrade on Friday evening. “Hardly anyone in Serbia knows that the ghost game between Belarus and Switzerland will be played here.” Therefore, the editor-in-chief of Sportal is sure that there will be no problems with this game.

Moreover, Novi Sad is one of the most peaceful places in Serbia. “People from more than 15 countries are in this city. Many people from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and they have been living with Serbs for decades,” says Mihailovic.

The focus these days is on the European Championship qualifier between Serbia and Lithuania on Friday in Belgrade. And even there, interest is currently low, Mihailovic estimates. “The game is not even sold out yet. There is still a kind of depressed mood because of the poor performance at the World Cup.”

The fact that Switzerland sealed the early exit of the Serbs in Qatar does not seem to be a reason for Mihailovic to open old wounds. Still, he would advise Xhaka not to take to the streets. “He certainly won’t be welcome here.” But the protection of his person has been taken care of: “The Serbian police are standing by.”

Source : Blick