Kaizero

Utter madness. Celtic would be. Maybe, just maybe. Actually, no. They'd probably be in the lower half at best.

Imagine how good you'd be if you had a proper football man, though...

It's literally not. It's wearing the "logo" of a competing club/nation whilst representing another, because you claim affinity towards them. You could even bring it into the world of business, with someone employed at Nike wearing some Adidas gear as well as his Nike gear on official business because they quite like Adidas. If you're actively representing something, you're representing that. Show respect. Of course, the political statement is nowhere near the same. But again, that's not at all what I'm fucking arguing. Jesus christ. I just don't want players put other flags on their fucking shit when they're representing another country. HBA having a PSG badge on his socks is kind of different... this is political, so your anology is daft. There is no comparison sorry. I do agree mind, players shouldn’t bring politics into sport, especially when they don’t tend to practice what they preach outside of it. Out of interest where do you stand on players praying to Allah or God before, during or after a match? The comparison is perfect, man I am not arguing a political side, I am arguing against blending "brands" when you're officially representing one "brand", so for my argument it works. You're applying it to a different argument - a political one, where it does not work (or at least not as well). You changing the application of the analogy doesn't make it not work for its original purpose. They can be as religious as they want. Again, my argument isn't political. I understand Shaqiri put it there as a political statement (a shit one at that), but I'm not arguing against the politicalness of it - even though I do disagree with bringing politics like that into the World Cup - I am arguing against the general idea of players putting another nations flag on their equipment when they're officially representing another nation. It shouldn't be allowed because it's downright stupid, no matter if it's a political reason or just because they appreciate their other nationality. If you've elected to represent a certain nation, when you're representing that nation you should leave your other nation / its politics at home. When you're not officially representing that nation, do whatever the fuck you want. Fly whatever flag you want in your house. Do interviews about the politics of your other nation. Buy condoms with your other nations flag on and fuck girls from the nation you represent on the field. Who the fuck cares. Just don't fucking mix and match when on official business.

http://i.imgur.com/DsfKEZG.gif

I'm not letting it go until FIFA bans it so more people don't start doing it It's gonna become a fucking trend and this will be my constant emotional state:

Even the redneckiest Trump voters probably smell better than the Branks.

I think a critical detail that's being lost in all this is that I'm not trying to make a comment/statement about the intricacies of the Balkans. I just don't want a Nike employee to wear Adidas to work.

It's literally not. It's wearing the "logo" of a competing club/nation whilst representing another, because you claim affinity towards them. You could even bring it into the world of business, with someone employed at Nike wearing some Adidas gear as well as his Nike gear on official business because they quite like Adidas. If you're actively representing something, you're representing that. Show respect. Of course, the political statement is nowhere near the same. But again, that's not at all what I'm fucking arguing. Jesus christ. I just don't want players put other flags on their fucking shit when they're representing another country.

That's not the issue at all though. It's in no way what I'm arguing, ffs. I'm saying no player should play a national game with flags on their equipment other than the flag(s) of the nation they're representing, because: 1. It's not the country they're playing for. 2. It could create unnecessary political issues, like in this situation, where Serbia were fuming. I fully support the independence of Kosovo, just FYI. My issue is that you represent the nation you represent - or the one you've chosen to represent, that's it. You can feel proud of being multinational as much as you want, but when you represent your country (chosen country or not) you shouldn't be allowed to put other flags on your shit. Serbs in general are horrid, mind. Mitro's the exception. Went to their "Museum of Warfare" in Belgrade three years ago, multiple floors with stuff from 10.000 BC and onwards, but nothing from the 90s

Again, it's not about the bonkers nature of the balkans. I'd be equally enraged if it was a Norwegian playing with a Swiss flag on one of his boots. Or a Swiss playing with a Norwegian flag on his boot, for that matter. Hell, if it was the same situation as Shaqiri - but Norway and not Kosovo - seeing a Norwegian flag on his boot would probably have me rage so much I'd endanger myself.

France, Brazil, Russia and England through to the semis I think.

Anyway, to summarize to avoid further confusion: - I don’t think players should be allowed to have things representing other nations on their equipment when it’s not the country they are currently representing. I think it should be a universal rule for national team equipment. - Not a fan of the political celebration because it’s unecessarily offensive for a footy game. - Think Shaquiri is a dick for holding both Switzerland and Kosovo hostage in 2016 over captaincy. Kosovo begging him to represent them, offering captaincy up, yet him still continuing with Switzerland - and then having the gall to put a Kosovo flag on his equipment when playing for Switzerland.

We’d be shit if we didn’t have dual nationals. I love them.

Not the same as playing with another flag on your equipment, though I’m not a fan of the political implications in a football match - but they got fined. However, imagine Ben Arfa playing with a PSG logo on ‘cause he grew up a PSG fan. Fuck off is it anything like that all. It's a very complex geopolitical situation that resulted in war and conflict for many years and still ongoing new politically with Serbia not recognising Kosovo. Comparing that to having another club badge on your boots man. Fucking hell. It has nothing to do on anyone’s equipment. That’s the point. I’m not discussing the intricacy of Balkan here. I’m saying no matter if you play for Switzerland, Kosovo or Curacao, nothing in your equipment should reflect another country.

Not the same as playing with another flag on your equipment, though I’m not a fan of the political implications in a football match - but they got fined. However, imagine Ben Arfa playing with a PSG logo on ‘cause he grew up a PSG fan. It’s just disrespectful and dumb. You’ve made a choice about who to represent, whatever you feel otherwise has no place on your equipment.

FWIW, let’s also not forget Shaquiri publicly threatened to declare for Kosovo at the time if he was not made captain / promised captaincy in the future.

50/50 as you have to fuck up spectacularily to not reach the final now.

Touch your face. Live a little.

If they f***ing love Kosovo so much, they had the chance to play for them and make them better. Instead Kosovo is still s***. Hlory hunting c***s. You can be proud of being from two nations Kosovo was recognised by FIFA in May 2016. Shaqiri made his international debut in 2010. Not going to wait for something that might never happen when he has dual nation eligibility. Again, you’re allowed to switch when a new nation is recognised by FIFA. How else would Kosovo have enough players to even field a team? Most of their current players represented other nations before. Players previously representing: 7 for Albania 1 for Switzerland 3 Germany U21 1 Sweden 5 Norway (3 U21 - 2 A-Team) 1 Austria all in their most recent squad. When you are an established member of another country that regularity qualifies for the big tournaments, you consider that nation home, you are not going to pull out of the squad on the eave of the European Championships to play for the country you are from, even though you haven't lived there for 20 years. No matter how passionate you are about your heritage. You can't change if you played an international game after the date the new administration was recognised by FIFA. Presume you're as strongly opposed to Sterling playing for England? Costa for Spain? No idea if you have any non Norwegian born players in your national team but I presume you are leading a vitriolic hate campaign against their involvement in the national team given how you're going on here. It's not about them playing for Switzerland though, it's about them being so passionate about Kosovo while playing for Switzerland. I have no issue with someone playing for the country they call home, even if they or their parents/grandparents were born elsewhere. But if you 100% seem to identify as a Kosovo national, even saying so in interviews, you should have chosen to represent them rather than stay with a national team that’s clearly second in your heart - even if the chance of tournaments are lower if you change. It’s disrespectful to both Switzerland AND Kosovo.

I’m just happy someone hit the crossbar. Bet £5 on it Anyway, really happy for England. Final is closer than even.

Stan Collymore dancing with an English flag singing It’s Coming Home

£80 on England

If they f***ing love Kosovo so much, they had the chance to play for them and make them better. Instead Kosovo is still s***. Hlory hunting c***s. You can be proud of being from two nations Kosovo was recognised by FIFA in May 2016. Shaqiri made his international debut in 2010. Not going to wait for something that might never happen when he has dual nation eligibility. Again, you’re allowed to switch when a new nation is recognised by FIFA. How else would Kosovo have enough players to even field a team? Most of their current players represented other nations before. Players previously representing: 7 for Albania 1 for Switzerland 3 Germany U21 1 Sweden 5 Norway (3 U21 - 2 A-Team) 1 Austria all in their most recent squad.