Liverpool leave Xherdan Shaqiri out of Red Star Belgrade trip due to political tensions

Shaqiri, a Kosovar-Albanian, caused controversy when he celebrated a late World Cup winner against Serbia by making an 'double-headed eagle' gesture

Xherdan Shaqiri has not travelled for Liverpool's Champions League trip to Red Star Belgrade following concerns that his presence in Serbia could cause unwelcome hostility.

Shaqiri was born in Kosovo, is of Kosovan-Albanian heritage and represents Switzerland at international level.

During the summer's World Cup, the 27-year-old provoked controversy by scoring a late winner against Serbia and making an ‘double-headed eagle’ gesture, in reference to the symbol on the flag of Albania.

Tensions between the Albanian and Serbian populations within Kosovo have long existed and led in part to the Kosovo War in the late 1990s.

Albania and Serbia fought on opposing sides of the conflict and, despite Kosovo declaring independence in 2008, Serbia does not fully recognise the province as a state.

Shaqiri’s celebration in June angered the Football Association of Serbia, who also lodged a complaint to Fifa about the winger playing with an image of the Kosovo flag on his boots.

Xherdan Shaqiri avoided a suspension for his pro-Albania celebration (Reuters)

Shaqiri avoided suspension but was fined by Fifa for "unsporting behaviour", as were his Switzerland team-mates Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Though there were no concerns regarding Shaqiri’s safety in Belgrade, Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, believed the winger’s presence could cause an unnecessary distraction for his side.

“It’s a situation where we will go to the fantastic city of Belgrade as a football team to play football," Klopp told Liverpool's official website.

“We have heard and read the speculation and talk about what kind of reception Shaq would receive and although we have no idea what would happen, we want to go there and be focused 100 per cent on football and not have to think about anything else, that’s all.

“We are Liverpool FC, a big club, a football team but we don’t have any message further than that. We have no political message, absolutely not. We want the focus to be on a great game of football, free from anything else.

“We are keen to be respectful and keen to avoid any distractions that would take focus away from a 90-minute-plus contest that is important for football and only football. So for that reason, Shaq is not involved and he accepts and understands this. Shaq is our player, we love him, and he will play for us a lot of times, but not on Tuesday.

“I have heard so many wonderful things about the city of Belgrade, and the country of Serbia as a whole, from friends and colleagues who’ve visited before, so now I’m really looking forward to taking Liverpool there for a great game of Champions League football.”

Following the 4-0 victory over Red Star at Anfield last month, Shaqiri claimed he had no concerns about playing in Serbia.

“I don’t really care what people are saying,” he said. “I just go there to play a football game. It is not about politics it is about football. I worry about nothing and go to play.”

Red Star’s sporting director, Zvezdan Terzic, said in September that though his club would do everything in their power to protect Shaqiri, it may ultimately be wise for Liverpool to leave the player at home.

“I think that Shaqiri will be under unbelievable psychological pressure because he will know where he is coming,” Terzic said.

“He knows that the Red Star is a symbol of Serbia and playing the Marakana, I don’t know whether he will play.

“Of course, as a football club we treat our rivals equally and we do not have to deal with the past and the history.

“Red Star must do everything to make Shaqiri feel that he came to play football and it is our duty to protect him in the case of unwanted situations. Let’s be good hosts.”