The idea of keeping politics out of football has always seemed a little absurd. Separation is not conceivable today, even if it were formerly possible, given the prevalence of state-sponsored clubs and sportswashing.
Simple analysis of what takes place on the field every weekend is still necessary. Yes, that still accounts for the majority of coverage. However, Liverpool is more aware than others that the numerous and varied connections to politics cannot be ignored.
After all, this is the team whose supporters endured a torturous, nearly fruitless battle for justice in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster. In a history that dates back to, this club has been the target of weekly chanting of “sign on.”
Even still, the regular “scandals” involving the national anthem serve as a poignant reminder that politics are never far away in the world of international sports. The criticism to the USWNT’s decision to refrain from singing throughout the World Cup was significant, and curiously, it frequently came from the types of people who typically espouse the ‘politics out of football’ credo.
On the global scale, some events are always extremely charged. In actuality, UEFA has a list of “prohibited clashes”; the tournament drawings are not as random as they appear, with Kosovo being purposefully kept separate from Serbia and a select group of other countries.
That is because Kosovo is not a state that is generally acknowledged. In the late 1990s, NATO intervened on its side, but since then, tensions have remained dangerously high.
A player who was on Liverpool’s roster when it defeated Manchester City in 2020 is directly referenced in the story. Xherdan Shaqiri, who plays for Switzerland, is an Albanian Kosovar.
That is the background of a few members of the Swiss squad, which includes a number of political refugees. Switzerland vs. Serbia has historically been a highly contentious match because of this, with Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka both facing charges from FIFA for the “Albanian Eagle” celebration in 2018 despite the match being legal.
Shaqiri was seen holding his hand over his heart when the Kosovar national anthem was played. When he was taken off in the 84th minute, Kosovo’s supporters gave him a standing ovation.
