UPDATE -- FIFA has fined three Switzerland players for making hand gestures of an Albanian national symbol to celebrate World Cup goals against Serbia, and cleared them to continue playing.
FIFA says Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri and received a warning and a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,100) for unsporting behavior. Stephan Lichtsteiner was warned and fined 5,000 Swiss francs ($5,050).
FIFA's disciplinary panel had the power to impose two-match bans if the actions of the players in a 2-1 win last Friday were judged to have provoked the general public.
Xhaka and Shaqiri made hand gestures of a two-headed eagle after scoring goals, and Swiss captain Lichtsteiner joined in the celebration.
Xhaka and Shaqiri have ethnic Albanian heritage linked to Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. Serbia doesn't recognize that independence.
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NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (AP) - Switzerland is a strong favorite to beat Costa Rica and reach the knockout stage for the third time in the last four World Cups.
Even a draw would be enough on Wednesday for the Swiss in their final Group E match against Costa Rica, which lost its first two games and has already been eliminated.
The real tension revolves around three Swiss players who are being investigated by the governing body FIFA for politically charged hand gestures during a 2-1 victory over Serbia in their last group game. The gestures were intended to mimic a two-headed eagle, which is an Albanian national symbol.
The players are Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Swiss captain Stephan Lichtsteiner.
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