Father Xhaka threatens feminist: ‘Be careful what you write about the Xhaka family’ Several million already spent: This is Chico, the (still) Lotto millionaire

Even three days after the final whistle, the match between the Swiss national team and Serbia is causing a stir. Especially in the country of origin of Granit Xhaka’s family, Kosovo.

This time, Kosovo feminist Zana Avdiu has joined the debate, publishing a Facebook post sharply criticizing Xhaka’s crotch grab:

Avdiu published the post last night, just before appearing on a sports talk show on Kosovo’s private channel T7. There, the lawyer and human rights activist took on four other commentators – all men – and did not deviate an inch from her point of view.

Apart from Xhaka’s obscene gesture, she is much more disturbed by the fact that the photo was shared again and proudly on social media: “For two days we have been dealing with this photo that degrades the person of Granit Xhaka itself. Which value does this photo have for us? What does it say about our society when we celebrate such a gesture?”

The (born in Albania, editor’s note) players should have been careful and resisted the great pressure from that country and the football association, which is unable to separate sport or art from politics, Avdiu explains. You saw that in this match, for example when the Serbian fans chanted “fascist cries”. The lawyer also mentions the racist statements of the Serbian coach and the misconduct of the Serbian players towards Granit Xhaka.

Avdiu is repeatedly interrupted by her male colleagues, who say she doesn’t understand the meaning of the gesture. “Explain it to me!” demands Avdiu of her opponents.

“First of all, you don’t understand the emotions of a footballer,” accuses an analyst present. The lawyer counters, “First of all, you can’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t understand.”

The men fidget and do not answer Avdiu’s question. Then she takes it a step further and says, “Let me explain: Granit Xhaka’s gesture symbolizes an assault!”

There were some other moments in that game to be proud of: Shaqiri’s goal, Xhaka being named Man of the Match, or Shaqiri being equal to world footballers like Messi or Ronaldo. Instead, everything was overshadowed and the photo of Xhaka touching his crotch was shared in the Albanian community.

Avdiu turns to one of the opponents: “If such a gesture or this particular part of your body makes you proud, then I only feel sorry for you – for your levelless pride.”

Father Xhaka calls the TV studio

After the lawyer was allowed to explain her position, the captain’s father, Ragip Xhaka, was connected live to the studio by telephone. He is not in Switzerland and cannot turn on the show via camera. Right at the beginning he apologizes: “You know very well that I am not really a person of TV channels, cameras or newspapers. I am a man of sacrifice, work and prisons.”

Ragip Xhaka was politically active in Kosovo from a young age and campaigned for the rights of Albanians. He was therefore persecuted by the Serbian regime and spent several years in prison, where he was tortured and ill-treated. After his release, he fled to Switzerland with his family.

“I just wanted to remind this lady, Zana…not that I’m going to go into too much detail here and say who she is,” continues Xhaka Sr. further.

The lawyer digs deeper: “I don’t quite understand what he means by that…” Before she can formulate her question, Xhaka cuts her off: “Please, I don’t want any discussion with you! I didn’t call you.”

Then Xhaka continues his diatribe, always speaking about the lawyer present in the third person:

Ragip Xhaka is visibly touched by the feminist’s Facebook post and is deeply emotional. He again apologizes that it is not his way to participate in such debates with “such people” and descend to such a level.

“She calls Granit a street boy (“rrugaç”) without knowing the meaning of the word. She takes you to court and criticizes the gesture, the meaning of which she doesn’t even understand, and talks about sexual things that don’t exist. Imagine that.”

The father apologizes to his son Granit and says that this gesture can happen in an emotional state.

To understand Ragip Xhaka’s outrage, you should know that the Albanian term “rrugaç” has a very negative connotation. The term stands for a boy who does not have a nursing home and hangs out on the street. The word is most likely translated as “vagabond”, “street urchin”, or “lost”. Consequently, a “rrugaç” also has no manners, which in turn falls back on the parents.

Ragip Xhaka continues: «These people insult his mother, wife and children, make countless gestures, sing ‘Kill the Albanians!’, ‘Kosovo is Serbia!’ and you calls Granit a street kid.”

When the moderator wants to ask a question, Xhaka assumes the lawyer wants to get involved again and replies, “Please, I don’t want to argue with you!”

The moderator makes herself known and can therefore still ask her question to Xhaka Senior: “Are Granit’s resentment and gestures related to your past in Serbian prisons?”

“I beg you, I will explain: the Xhaka family never surrendered and will not surrender. Granit Xhaka’s gesture was neither political nor chauvinistic. Granite is granite. He did not make this gesture to offend anyone. It is a disgrace that she (lawyer, editor’s note) supports these Serbian positions.”

The moderators want to know if the father interacted with Granit and what he said after the game. Xhaka Senior resolutely replies: «I am in contact with Granit day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute. Because he’s my son.”

What Granit said after the game was a private matter, Xhaka Senior explained. However, Granit feels very hurt by people like “this Zana”. Never from opponents and enemies, but from people who support the positions of Serbia and who have insulted him in the worst possible way.

“Granit Xhaka always campaigns against violence against women in Kosovo. He risks his career and tells the world who raped our Albanian mothers, sisters and children – more than 20,000 victims (victims of rape during the Kosovo war, editor’s note). And she comes along and calls Granit a street urchin?”

Ragip Xhaka threatens the feminist

And then there is a confrontation and Ragip Xhaka threatens the lawyer: “I warn you again: you have to be careful what you write about the Xhaka family.”

“What else happens?” the lawyer replies, unperturbed by Xhaka’s threats.

“I’ll tell you what happens later. You’ll have to answer for yourself in every way. But when you do, it’ll be too late, I guarantee you with my life. Because you don’t know the Xhaka family.”

The human rights activist, Zana Avdiu, has repeatedly inflamed Kosovo with her feminist views. In a recent debate, she said that men in Kosovo prefer to have two or three sexual partners at the same time. She has also denounced Albanian rappers’ sexist lyrics and demanded that something be done about it.

Since your public criticism of Granit Xhaka’s crotch grab, she has received death threats and been insulted as a “whore” with “Serbian blood”: