Xherdan Shaqiri: I have no worries by potential hostile Belgrade fixture

Xherdan Shaqiri insists he has no concerns about playing in Serbia against Red Star Belgrade in two weeks’ time.

The midfielder caused controversy along with Switzerland team-mate Granit Xhaka when they both celebrated goals at the 2018 World Cup against Serbia by making an Albanian nationalist eagle symbol with their hands.

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The pair are from Kosovan-Albanian descent and were fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£8,000) for threatening to inflame political tensions.

“I had this already at the World Cup so I know I can handle this no problem.

“I just saw a few articles where one player said something. I don’t really care what people are saying. I just go there to play a football game. It is not about politics, it is about football. I worry about nothing and go to play.”

According to Sky Sports, Red Star general director Zvezdan Terzic said Shaqiri would be protected from “unwanted situations” but speculated the midfielder might not want to play when speaking to Serbian newspaper Kurir last month.

Speaking to Serbian newspaper Kurir last month, he said: “I think that Shaqiri will be under unbelievable psychological pressure because he will know where he is coming; he knows that the Red Star is a symbol of Serbia and playing at the Marakana, I don’t know whether he will play.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com