And now: SFA chief investigated by FIFA after BBC interview. Really dumb to be saying things in public and not expect to get slammed by FIFA for it.
The Serbian fans had been hurling insults at Xhaka and especially Shaqiri all game, and when you consider what they've been through, it's a little uncharitable to blame them for a couple of gestures after a goal.
The double eagle was the AH symbol. One also is on the Albanian flag. Shaqiri is an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo, which has declared independence, but which the Serbs feel is still part of Serbia The story below doesn't mention it, but the Serbs' feelings about the bird probably go all the way back to World War One, which began when AH invaded their country. . https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/24/sports/world-cup/mo-salah-egypt-xhaka-shaqiri.html
Well, Serbia do not recognize the independence of Kosovo, the Battle of Kosovo is the root of modern Serbian nationalism. Xhaka and Shaqiri are Kosovar Albanian, Xhaka’s Dad Spent time in Yugoslavian jail for advocating Kosovar independence in the ‘60s. Shaqiri was born in Kosovo.
All of this is true without explaining why it's bad...because it's not bad. The Serbs wanna talk shit about ethnic cleansing Albanians and Kosovars and get vv whiny when somebody has the GALL, the straight up AUDACITY, to flash an Albanian symbol back at them. Bunch of snowflakes
As someone who has a Master's Degree in Modern European history (big time nerd ) - let me say, this shit runs deep. Best just to stay out of it. That's what I do when it comes to all things Yugoslav.
trying to find the 'good guys' and the 'bad guys' in Balkan politics can be a bit of a challenge. If you don't really, really know what you're talking about, you can easily walk into a minefield. … and even if you do. edit: er … what Jamooky said.
What llama said. How different is that than kissing your badge? In itself is not offensive like the finger or a racial slur. It may be a non verbal “f you” but so what? When the Serbs are getting upset because someone flashed a symbol to them then Jesus Christ we are in a PC era.
I started going way further back to get some general perspective and after briefly combing through 700+ years worth of history...it all comes down to when you’d like to begin. Pick time period A and you’ll be swayed one side, pick time period B and you might feel differently.
Of course, that's why their bitching about it to FIFA. You think Shaqiri and Xhaka are going to cry foul over being fined for the gesture? Hell no! They'll pay the fine with a smile as wide as The Joker's for angering the Serbs.
Yeah I was going to make a point about the Balkans War but...this isn't the place to start stirring crap up that I don't know about.
I think the Balkan history is quite useful to know in order to understand the future trajectory of the US Kinda but not really What's your specialty Jamooky?
The Senegal warm-up is even better with Ducktales music. pic.twitter.com/4VvyxeyOC4— Kristian (@vonstrenginho) June 25, 2018
Well yeah, I don't think it is bad I was just giving some of the historical context of why the Serbians are acting salty. Everyone should read this book, and then we can start a thread and have a discussion, three weeks? https://www.amazon.com/Yugoslavia-Death-Nation-Laura-Silber/dp/0140262636
No real 'specialty', but I wrote my thesis on the role of football in Yugoslav unity. Seriously. I know the history as well as I can, which is why I don't get involved in debating who's at fault for what. It's proper Hatfield and McCoy stuff - and I don't wanna get caught in the crossfire. EDIT - full disclosure, all 4 sets of my great-grandparents were born in the Austria-Hungarian Empire; which I DO feel gets treated unfairly by modern historians. But I'll leave it at that.
Good book. I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Tito-Rise-Fall-Yugoslavia-Richard/dp/0571255817 although I had a professor who thought it wasn't very balanced. Who's knows? Richard West is a journalist and relies more on on personal accounts than historical research.
I doubt it would have survived, but I always wonder what would have happened if Franz Ferdinand's United States of Greater Austria (basically the federalization of the AH Empire) came to fruition.
I place more blame on the Hungarian branch of the Empire and "Magyarization" efforts. But let's not slide into the rabbit hole.
I will have to check that one out. As for something not being balanced, is anything really balanced? I think we had a two week discussion on that in my senior seminar class back in college. As long as I know where the author is coming from I am ok, plus I will not get all my info from one source/person!