Ex-Premier League referee: Granit Xhaka ‘flawed personality’ exposed as controversial Arsenal image emerges
Arsenal star Granit Xhaka should have been sent off during Switzerland’s 3-2 win over Serbia last week (2 December), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Xhaka has a “flawed personality” after his controversial gesture towards the Serbia bench.
The 30-year-old grabbed his crotch while in the direction of the Serbia bench but it went unpunished by the referee who was just yards away.
The Arsenal man was eventually cautioned for a separate incident in stoppage time but two yellow cards would have seen him sent off.
He would have also been banned for Switzerland’s round of 16 game with Portugal on Tuesday (6 December).
“He’s obviously a passionate guy but you can’t be passionate and arrogant,” Hackett said after analysing the image with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It’s one of those incidents where they have got to recognise that there is a technical committee watching every game closely and there is a referees committee watching every game closely.
“Fifa are extremely cautious about their image of the game and all that goes with it.
“You’ve just got to express a bit of control. What he’s done is unhelpful but it’s him, isn’t it? It’s almost a flawed personality.
“He’s fortunate that he wasn’t booked for this.”
Xhaka also caused controversy after the game when he donned a jersey with the name Jashari on it during the celebrations.
He insisted it was a reference to his teammate Ardon Jashari but is also the name of Adem Jashari, founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army and a symbol of Kosovar independence.
In other news, Arsenal have set their sights on two January signings as a £50million raid is plotted.