Serbia Facing Disciplinary Proceedings after Stormy Showdown Against Switzerland
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Serbia on 3 counts related to their group-stage defeat by Switzerland. In the World Cup match on Friday, Serbia lost the game and was eliminated from the tournament.
According to a statement released by FIFA, the FIFA disciplinary committee has now opened proceedings against the Football Association of Serbia because of the prospective breaches of Articles 12, 13, and 16 of the FIFA disciplinary code associated with incidents at the time of the World Cup match of Serbia vs. Switzerland that took place on 2nd December.
A public address announcement in the game's 77th minute had asked the crowd to avoid discriminatory gestures and chants. An eyewitness alleged later that Serbia supporters were putting up fascist slogans and made racist chants aimed at Albanians at the Stadium. It is claimed to have been set by a fan group.
Eleven players had been booked at the time of the game, which overspilled after a confrontation involving Granit Xhaka, the Switzerland midfielder. It looked like he grabbed his genitals in front of Serbia's bench when they came for the second half of the penalty leading tempers to flare on each side. Xhaka had also been a part of a late confrontation with Nikola Milenkovic, the Serbia player, which sparked similar fracas. But no proceedings are going to be opened against the Swiss football association regarding what unfolded during the match.