Granit Xhaka’s father, Ragip, has demanded an apology for his son after he was called a ‘traitor’ for not opting to play for Switzerland.

In what has been an ongoing saga that has dominated the interlull, Granit Xhaka had always maintained that he wanted to play for Kosovo but that FIFA would not allow it. This assertion seemed to be legitimised with the latest FIFA statement on the situation.

After Granit published an open letter to the public of Kosovo to explain the situation, his father has now done the same to demand they apologise for him.

The letter is reproduced below, but it was mangled a bit by Google Translate as it struggled with the original Albanian. I’ve tidied it where I could and it was clear what Ragip was trying to say. Some of the nonsense was just indecipherable so I left it as it was. If any Albania speakers would like to get in touch, that would be great.

Granit Xhaka (L) reacts next to teammate forward Breel Embolo after Xhaka received a red card during the FIFA World Cup WC 2018 football qualifier between Switzerland and Portugal at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel on September 6, 2016. / AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI
Granit Xhaka (L) reacts next to teammate forward Breel Embolo after Xhaka received a red card during the FIFA World Cup WC 2018 football qualifier between Switzerland and Portugal at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel on September 6, 2016. / AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI

Dear sports media, Dear fans, dear representatives of the Football Federation of Kosovo!

With lightning speed, you threw mud on my boys and labelled them as traitors or as people who sell themselves for money, or worse, when someone even threatened to not come to Kosovo, etc etc etc.

To know the soul with no pain, my heart was issued because I was 100% convinced that it is unfair to accuse them because you do not know everything. I spent many sleepless nights, I wanted to react, but I followed the advice of my son that although young, as a wise man said: “Baba be still, we wait but do not forget.”

I heard the advice of Granit and spears. Shaft respecting the wisdom of the decision and my son, but more aching soul.

Granit a few days later everyone hectically addressed the people with an open letter, because he could not bear so much of truth and without injustice. There he straightened everything and was very accurate. I like my son too had many other things to say, but again the spear, because I believed in the right and power of the truth, of my son.

The letter was distributed and widely understood, but still there were those who were saying. “Why is it true all that they write of Granit Xhaka?”

I knew and I was convinced that one day everything would be clarified but not that neat and the truth would come out within a week.

And right now the highest in world football, FIFA, Granit explained exactly what he had said everything in an open letter.

All day I read and I could not believe that my son have been proven right in record time, but even more happy for legal and morals to be put in place, I did not want to comment again and lunge at one of them that threw mud on my boys, but I want to ask everyone with a question and a request to all who wrote, insulted and dishonoured.

Ragip Xhaka, on behalf of the family coat asks you, “Do we Xhaka’s not deserve an honest and straightforward public apology now?

I say yes! This is the least you can do for spiritual damage you can never return.

Those media, those fans for most of the Football Federation of Kosovo should go on an interview with a public apology.

This is at least the minimum you can do as much or do not have on hand or cannot accomplish.

An apology you owe me us, the family Xhaka, all Albanians.

Xhaka will honour Albanians wherever they are and will be a good example for all real ambassadors.

With respect Ragip Xhaka and family.