Switzerland Star Xherdan Shaqiri Threatens Kosovo Switch After Captaincy Snub

Stoke City and Switzerland international star Xherdan Shaqiri has reacted badly to being overlooked for the Swiss captaincy and is threatening to switch his allegiance to Kosovo, Dream Team FC report.

The 25-year-old was born in Kosovo but up until this year, the country was not recognised by FIFA as an eligible footballing country but after now being recognised as such, Shaqiri is eligible to represent his country of birth.

Though the former Inter man has represented Switzerland on 54 occasions, the FIFA rules stipulate a capped player is able to switch his allegiance to play for the newly-recognised country, provided he is eligible.

Shaqiri has threatened to make the switch in the lead up to their Group A crunch match against Romania, after Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner was handed the captaincy and Premier League pair Granit Xhaka and Valon Behrami were both named as vice-captains by manager Vladimir Petkovic.

The Stoke winger did not hold back in what he thought of the decision to overlook him as Gokhan Inler's successor and told the Swiss press he would have no qualms switching allegiances.

He said in a press conference on Wednesday: “What if the coach of Kosovo wants me as the captain? Of course, I am thinking about it then.”

Shaqiri's outburst has come at a crucial time in Switzerland's preparations as they look to take a huge step in qualifying for the knockout stages by consolidating their win against Albania with another against Romania in Group A.