Swiss coach unimpressed with celebrations in win over Serbia

KALININGRAD, Russia: Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic said Friday that politics and football should "never mix" after two players celebrated goals in a 2-1 victory over Serbia with political gestures.

Xherdan Shaqiri's last minute winner capped an impressive comeback for the Swiss in an eventful Group E encounter in Kaliningrad after Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka levelled following Aleksandar Mitrovic's opener.

Both Shaqiri and Xhaka have roots in Kosovo, a former province of Serbia that has declared independence, a fact that stoked tensions before and during Friday's clash.

Both players pointedly celebrated scoring by making a double eagle gesture with their hands to represent the Albanian flag, with which many people in Kosovo indentify.

Although the win puts Switzerland in pole position to make it out of a tough group containing five-times winners Brazil, Petkovic was unimpressed with his players' celebrations.

"You should never mix politics and football, it's good to be a fan and important to show respect," he told reporters after the game.

"It's clear that emotions surface. I think on and off the pitch we need to steer away from politics in football and we should focus on this as a sport that brings people together."

Shaqiri had been booed relentlessly by Serbia fans throughout a high-quality match, but the Stoke City forward had the last laugh with his last ditch winner.

"In football you have always emotions and you can see what I did and it's just emotion," he said in reference to his controversial celebration.

"I'm very happy to score the goal, that's all." - AFP