A celebration that caused much consternation during the World Cup clash between Serbia and Switzerland this summer, Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi may be facing trouble of his own for practicing the same celebration after scoring Arsenal's opener in their 3-2 defeat of Cardiff City this afternoon.
Converting a cross from his teammate Granit Xhaka, Mustafi directed the 'double-headed eagle' celebration toward a player who featured in the World Cup game in question.
Swiss and German internationals respectively, Xhaka and Mustafi share an Albanian heritage; the celebration said to resemble the image which adorns the Albanian flag.
During the World Cup, the celebration (which also involved Liverpool's Xherdan Shaqiri) took on an inflammatory tone given the relationship complicated relationship which exists between those of Albanian heritage, and Serbia.
However, despite being a statement between two players who clearly share a similar outlook, the English FA may not look favourably toward Mustafi's action.
According to the Independent, "the Football Association’s regulations concerning political statements in the game, could [mean Mustafi will] now face punishment if his celebration is deemed to have been a display of political symbolism."
For their demonstration during the World Cup, Xhaka and Shaqiri were fined.
