ST. PETERSBURG, July 3 (Sputnik) - Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri said on Tuesday that the story about him celebrating a goal against Serbia with a political gesture during a FIFA World Cup group stage match was heavily "blown up" by media.
Shaqiri and his teammate midfielder Granit Xhaka, who are both of Albanian-Kosovar heritage, celebrated their goals with an eagle gesture as a symbol of the two-headed eagle on the Albanian flag. The duo were fined just over $10,000 by FIFA.
"We do not play for politics. It’s the media that blows it up. We do not give much thought to it. It's fine. Everyone has a right to do what they want," Shaqiri told journalists.
Switzerland were defeated 1-0 by Sweden at the St. Petersburg Stadium on Tuesday and will be heading home, while Sweden advance to the quarter-finals.
He added that he is proud of his national team and their performance at the tournament, and that they played better than Sweden but their opponent "were a bit more lucky."
In the quarter-final game in Samara on Saturday, Sweden will face Colombia or England.
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