he people from Kosovo are now collecting money, trying to help Swiss players Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner to pay their FIFA fines.

Xhaka and Shaqiri need to play 10,000 Swiss francs (about 10,000 US dollars) each, and Lichtsteiner - 5,000 Swiss francs for their goal celebration in the match against Serbia.

The players demonstrated then a double eagle gesture, which symbolised the Albanian flag. In this way, they expressed their solidarity with Kosovo, the territory mostly populated with Albanians. Kosovo has been a part of Serbia for a long time, but declared independence in 2008 in a move that Serbia still refuses to recognise.

Xhaka and Shaqiri have Kosovar background, while Lichtsteiner joined their celebration as a team captain.

FIFA rules prohibit such political gestures during the matches, so the Swiss players have been fined. But the Kosovars have started up an online fund www.gofundme.com/Xhaka-Shaqiri-and-Lichtsteiner

and raised about 12,000 euros for just one day. Even state officials took part in it - Kosovo Commerce and Industry Minister Bajram Hasani donated 1,500 euros, which is reported to be his monthly salary.