PRISTINA: Hundreds of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo – including a government minister – have raised enough money to pay the fines imposed on Swiss goalscorers Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri for their celebrations in the World Cup win over Serbia. Both players, who are ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, celebrated by imitating the double-headed eagle displayed on Albania’s flag. Swiss team captain Stephan Lichtsteiner joined them, and they were together fined 25,000 Swiss francs (£19,117) by FIFA. Albanians in Kosovo and elsewhere soon rushed to donate to pay the fines, collecting over $27,000. Bajram Hasani, the minister of Trade and Industry, donated his monthly salary of 1,357 euros via GoFundMe. Serbia refuses to recognise the independence of its former province Kosovo. Published in Daily Times, June 28th 2018.