Serbian language media outlet "Alo.rs" published an article today (December 6) claiming that Xhaka wore the number 26 jersey and the inscription Jashari to commemorate the anniversary of the massacre of Serbs.
This newspaper claims that the number 26 on the Ardon Jashari jersey, worn by Xhaka after the match, symbolizes the public appearance of the Kosovo Liberation Army, in 1996, where they had their first synchronized action when they killed five and injured five other Serbs in attacks in Peja, Shtime, Deçan, on the Rozhajë - Prishtina road.
The article in this newspaper bears the title "HORROR After the shameful provocation by Xhakës stands the celebration of the anniversary of the massacre of Serbs!" and has also made its way to the front page of the newspaper with the title "Celebrated the massacre 26 years ago". (here)
Link to the article published on "Alo.rs":
Parts of the article published on "Alo.rs":
A Swiss representative wearing a jersey with the surname of the founder of the terrorist KLA and the number 26 praised the crime against our people.
That is, the infamous KLA was founded in 1994, and first appeared in public in 1996, that is, 26 years ago! Then the Albanian terrorists had their first synchronized action when they killed five and injured five more Serbs in attacks in Peja, Shtimje, Deçan, on the Rozhaje - Pristina road.
A Kosovar Albanian from the ranks of Switzerland spat on all the innocent Serbs who died from the bullets and knives of the criminal KLA and the cruel terrorist from Prekaz, whom Pristina declared a national hero equal to Skanderbeg.
Despite claims by Serbian media that Xhaka wore the shirt with the inscription Jashari, alluding to the KLA commander, Adem Jashari, Xhaka stated that this action was in support of the young Swiss national football player of Albanian origin, Ardon Jashari, to whom he had promised to wear the shirt if they won the match. (here)
In the "Qatar 2022" World Cup, the number of players that national teams have the right to invite is 26 and, among the players, Ardon Jashari has been selected to have this number by the Swiss Football Federation. Therefore, the jersey was not selected with the intentions claimed by the Serbian media. (here)
The other claim that the number 26 symbolizes the anniversary of the first public appearance of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is untrue due to the fact that the KLA had its public appearance on November 28, 1997, and not 1996 as the Serbian media claims. So, the KLA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its public appearance this year, not the 26th anniversary as the newspaper claims. (here, here)
The reason that made the KLA go public was the murder of the Llausha school teacher, Halit Geci, and not, as claimed by the Serbian media, because of attacks and murders of Serbs.
Therefore, the claim that the jersey with the number 26 and the inscription Jashari was deliberately chosen is unfounded, because the jersey number does not support the Serbian claims.
Analyze:
The Serbian-language media outlet "Alo.rs" has published an article claiming that Xhaka wore the number 26 jersey and the inscription Jashari to celebrate the anniversary of the massacre of Serbs and the public appearance of the KLA.
The allegations do not stand up to the fact that the KLA is not celebrating the 26th anniversary of its public appearance, because it publicly appeared in 1997, not in 1996 as the Serbian newspaper claims.
Furthermore, Xhaka has denied to Serbian media that he was wearing the shirt with the inscription Jashari, alluding to the surname of the KLA commander, Adem Jashari.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses that this claim is unfounded and is classified as "manipulation of facts".
Rating:
The evaluation as "Manipulation of facts" is given to those media reports that use facts known to be correct, but interpret them in a distorted way. These reports typically use inaccurate information to draw inaccurate conclusions or claims, thereby misdirecting consumers' conclusions of media content in relation to the actual meaning of the facts presented.