Red Star vow to 'protect' Liverpool's Shaqiri in Serbia after WC celebration

Red Star Belgrade said they will “protect” Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri when the clubs meet at the Marakana in November for a Champions League clash, according to Red Star general director Zvezdan Terzic.

Shaqiri was the center of controversy this summer when he celebrated a late World Cup winner for Switzerland against Serbia with a pro-Albanian gesture.

That action from Shaqiri, who was born in the former Yugoslavia to Kosovan-Albanian parents, is likely to draw anger from Belgrade natives if he’s part of the Reds’ squad for the meeting in Serbia. However, Terzic insisted Red Star will do everything to shield Shaqiri from “unwanted situations” should he be selected.

“I think that Shaqiri will be under unbelievable psychological pressure because he will know where he is coming,” Terzic told Belgrade newspaper Kurir, as quoted by the Press Association. “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.”

Shaqiri – along with fellow Albanian-rooted Granit Xhaka and their Swiss teammate Stephan Lichtsteiner – escaped a FIFA ban for the display at the World Cup, instead receiving a fine.

Liverpool will host Red Star at Anfield on Oct. 24 before traveling for the return fixture on Nov. 6.