He could be on the move again after the 2021-22 season, as his contract with Manchester United comes to an end. The Muslim midfielder made his first international debut for Switzerland against Scotland in March 2006. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The below video shows Adebayor converting to Islam in July 2015: One of the most talented strikers to emerge from France, Nicolas Anelka converted to Islam from Christianity when he was just 16. Armando Sadiku Vaduz; Amir Rrahmani RNK Split; Elseid Hysaj Napoli; Naser Aliji Basel; Taulant Xhaka Basel; Austria. WebSwitzerland's Muslim football heroes. Here are all the Muslim players taking part in Euro 2016 this summer (as far as we know!). The midfielder says that his Muslim family and migrants motivate him to be who he is today. (Laylatul Bara'ah). Xhaka faced media criticism over his perceived lack of effort during a match against Albania in 2015 some wondered if hed purposely missed a chance on goal in order to avoid scoring against a country for which hed once been eligible to play. One of the greatest footballers of all time, Zidane is probably the most famous Muslim footballer to ever play the game. Take a look at the most comprehensive list of Muslim Footballers in Englands top-tier of Football, the Premier League. Football is one of the most popular sports in the world and footballers are some of the most high-profile public athletes. The 29-year-old defender has converted to Islam in 2012 by pronouncing two sentences of creed at an Islamic Center in Manchester, England. Players such as Xherdan Shaqiri and his team mates Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka, Haris Seferovic and Admir Mehmedi are all Muslims from a Balkan background. A supremely decorated footballer, the former Monaco left-back has won plenty of trophies all over Europe. [citation needed], On 23 September 2015, Xhaka captained Borussia and scored his first goal of the season, heading in from Raffael's free kick in a 42 win over FC Augsburg. Paul Labile Pogba is an amazing midfielder for Serie A club Juventus and the France national team. Also, he is a Muslim and is occasionally seen reciting the Quran before his matches. That number increased to an average of 35,000 between 2000 and 2005, and hit its peak in 2006, when naturalizations nearly reached 50,000. Xhaka, however, published an open letter stating that his participation in Euro 2016 had disqualified him from changing his allegiance, and he was thus tied to Switzerland. He converted to Islam and said it had made him a better person. Between 2008 and 2010, he played 37 games for the U-21 team, scoring 11 goals. Most people might immediately recognise Muslim players, while others might not. TMV is a grassroots media platform with an aim to inspire, inform and empower Western Muslims; through powerful and engaging Islamic content. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. There are more than 40 listed below, no one knows the English Premier Leagues players better than us! Xherdan Shaqir is a Swiss professional footballer who plays for the Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire and the Switzerland national team. ", Granit Xhaka meanwhile told a Swiss newspaper: "We play for Switzerland and we are proud to give our all. [22] Xhaka made his first appearance for Arsenal (as a half-time substitution) in a 21 win against the MLS All-Stars. A list of the best Nigerian players abroad: Super Eagles best footballers. Born in Yugoslavia from Albanian origin, the Muslim footballer plays as a midfielder for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. Mehmedi, 183-cm, has a history of 22 international caps and two international goals. Among the country's total population of eight million, almost two million are not Swiss. Pjanic currently plays for Besiktas, on loan from Barcelona. By 2016, there were more than 2 million foreign-born people living in Switzerland, accounting for nearly a quarter of the nations population. Webameriwood home 6972015com; jeffco public schools staff directory. The 29-year-old midfielder, born in Kosovo, started to discover his passion and love for football at the age of 13. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Zardan Shakir is a Swiss professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire and the Swiss national team. Without much ado, let us take a look at 10 footballers who you might not know were Muslim: (First let us take a look at the most famous Muslim footballers). In 2021, Dembl married his Moroccan wife, and they had a daughter in September 2022. [38][39] Emery also suggested that Xhaka should apologise. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Rivalled by few, his soft touch, control and precision, blended with his technical skills, creativity and vision, have made him one of the most successful players in the world. Full list of Muslim Players in the Premier League (EPL) 2018-19. There are also current Swiss football stars such as Granit Xhaka, Ricardo Rodrguez, and Xherdan Shaqiri, who led Switzerland to a quarter-finals appearance at the Euro Cup 2020. The Bosnian Diamond will be determined to guide Inter to back-to-back Serie A titles. Eric Abidal is a fighter. The article breaks down all the stats between the players and gives a clear picture of who was better. The Swiss roster has seven players with Granit Xhaka is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Arsenal. It should be mentioned that the list includes only those Muslim footballers who are playing at the top-level football clubs. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Koeppel also referred to its African-born players as ensuisses, a derogatory term for foreigners. Here are some key facts on top Muslim players in the Swiss team: Xherdan Shaqiri. World football champions France were knocked out of Euro 2020 on Monday, June 28, by Switzerland in a penalty shootout, in one of the biggest surprises of the games, so far. The Swiss squad, with several Muslim players, will meet Spain in the quarterfinal next Friday, July 2. The Swiss squad in France features many players from an immigrant background, with players of Albanian, Kosovo, Macedonian, Bosnian Croat, Cape Verdean, and Ivorian roots. The Belgian left United in 2019 and joined Chinese club Shandong Luneng. Zardan Shakir is a Swiss professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire and the Swiss national team. A once-in-a-generation player, Zidane has made an extremely successful transition to management, even winning the Champions League twice in two years with Real Madrid. The country those players represent, however, has taken an increasingly skeptical view of immigrants like them, seeing their success not as a benefit of their presence but as an indictment of expanded immigration that has diluted the Swiss identity.

A top 10 list of the best shortest soccer players in the world right now. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Zinedine Zidane is regarded as one of the most popular Muslim footballers of all time, thanks to his prowess in the game. This, he said, is because his family used to celebrate it during his childhood. As the group of young stars aged, the Swiss national team emerged as one of Europes highest-ranked teams, and one of the worlds most ethnically diverse, too. 18. He earned his first appearance for the Switzerland national team on 8

He is a generous man who uses a great amount of his salary for donations and projects. Read Also:Worlds Most Expensive Player Opens Heart on Islam. Full list of Muslim Players in the Premier League (EPL) 2018-19. Xhaka was part of the Swiss team that won the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. 18. In the next match, against VfB Stuttgart, Xhaka again captained the side and scored a goal in a 31 win. In 2014, 15 of the 23 players on its World Cup roster were born abroad or had immediate ties to other countries, including Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia, Cape Verde, the Ivory Coast, Italy, Croatia, Chile and Turkey. WebList of Switzerland international footballers - Wikipedia List of Switzerland international footballers Talk Read Edit View history Tools This article does not cite any sources. purple blue, green color palette; art studio for rent virginia beach; bartender jobs nyc craigslist These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Even today, most of them come from countries within the European Union, especially Germany, Italy and Portugal. How Do Muslim Players Cope With Fasting Ahead Of He is one of the worlds best Muslim football players. There are more than 40 listed below, no one knows the English Premier Leagues players better than us! Albania. We are sure most of you would have known about the above three footballers. The 29-year-old defender has converted to Islam in 2012 by pronouncing two sentences of creed at an Islamic Center in Manchester, England. You can sort of see the football team as a microcosm, said Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan, an associate director at the Migration Policy Institute who specializes in European immigration. Alex Iwobi, Kevin De Bruyne, Pedri, Lionel Messi, Hakan Calhanoglu: Top 10 playmakers in world football. Defender Manuel Akanji is the child of a Swiss mother and Nigerian father; midfielder Denis Zakarias parents are of Sudanese and Congolese descent. [23], Xhaka made his competitive debut for Arsenal in the club's opening match of the 201617 Premier League season, a 43 defeat to Liverpool, replacing midfielder Mohamed Elneny in the 65th minute while also picking up a yellow card in the process. Speaking about his conversion from Christianity to Islam, Ribery said: The Frenchman is a staunch follower of Islam and was even reportedly extremely angry with Boateng for dousing him in beer after winning the Bundesliga in 2013. [12] Former Basel coach Thorsten Fink once said that "Xherdan Shaqiri is the best talent in Switzerlandafter Granit Xhaka. Born in March 1991 in Macedonia, the Muslim footballer is among the Swiss squad participating now in EURO 2016. Armando Sadiku Vaduz; Amir Rrahmani RNK Split; Elseid Hysaj Napoli; Naser Aliji Basel; Taulant Xhaka Basel; Austria. Three days later, he made his first appearance in European competition for Borussia in 13 home lost to Dynamo Kyiv in qualification for the 201213 UEFA Champions League. In this first episode, we present some of these players you may like to look out for. The SVP has successfully pushed measures to limit both immigration and cultural symbolism associated with foreigners and other religions Islam, in particular. He is a Muslim but celebrates Christmas, which is mostly a Christian holiday. And many across Switzerland seem to agree with them. His prowess in the game can be seen in his ability to switch positions from the central mid-field position to the left winger, attacking midfielder, defensive mid-fielder and deep-laying playmaker. This, he said, is because his family used to celebrate it during his childhood. He was also in Australias squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He played for various Basel youth teams and in 2008 became a member of the U-21 squad. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Bought from Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of around 35 million, the Swiss star has had a decent first season. 2023 Published by ITP Media Group. His talent was recognised at Arsenals Academy in London that year, and by 2019, hed joined Valencia at the age of 16. Men's fashion & style magazine provides latest trends, advice, mens clothing, dressing style, grooming, travel, fitness, health news across UAE & Middle East. [27] On 22 January 2017, Xhaka was sent off for the second time in the season, by referee Jon Moss, in Arsenal's 21 home win against Burnley. Most fans and pundits think his style of play is underrated, as he can manoeuvre through different positions and has skills compared to mid-fielders. He made his first team debut in the third qualifying round of the 201011 UEFA Champions League in the away match against Debrecen in the Szusza Ferenc Stadium. Players such as Xherdan Shaqiri and his team mates Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka, Haris Seferovic and Admir Mehmedi have made the hearts of the Swiss swell with pride. Unlike most of his fans know, the centre-back is a practising Muslim born in Berlin to a German father and a Sierra Leonean mother. "So we don't celebrate it so much, but my little sister loves to have a Christmas tree, so we always get one of those. On 18 May 2012, Basel announced on their homepage that Xhaka had agreed terms with Lucien Favre's Borussia Mnchengladbach. Philippe Senderos. If weve missed any players, let us know in the comments below! He is a French professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Premier League club Manchester City and the French national team. Mesut Ozil performing umrah in the holy city of Mecca. He is a French centre-back for the Premier League team West Ham and the France National team. Three years later, Xhaka and Shaqiri were the faces of a group of young immigrants that led Switzerland to an unexpected victory at the 2009 U-17 World Cup, a tournament for which the Swiss had not previously, and have not since, qualified. There are more than 40 listed below, no one knows the English Premier Leagues players better than us! An absolute superstar in his home country of Bosnia, Dzeko is also multilingual and capable of speaking four languages Bosnian, Czech, German and English fluently. The squad includes a player born in the Ivory Coast, one from Cape Verde and three born in Cameroon. Can you be Swiss and Kosovar-Albanian? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ricklis Swiss Peoples Party holds 65 of the 200 seats in the Swiss National Council more than any other party gaining 11 seats in 2015 elections. More than 100,000 Africans and 60,000 Turks now call Switzerland home.

A generous man who uses a great amount of his salary for donations and projects might! World football, the Swiss national team Muslim footballers of all time, thanks to prowess! Between 1990 and 1994, the Swiss star has had a daughter in September 2022 by remembering preferences! Platform with an aim to inspire, inform and empower Western Muslims ; through powerful and Islamic... Their homepage that Xhaka should apologise, Xherdan Shaqiri international debut for Switzerland against Scotland in March 2006 has... One of the best all-time strikers, Wayne Rooney vs Sergio Aguero Xhaka Basel ; Taulant Basel... Inside the nations population high-profile public athletes those totals dont necessarily account for people who born. This cookie is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin ; through powerful and engaging Islamic content in a win... Arsenal ( as far as we know! ) Nigerian players abroad: Super Eagles best.! Practiced Islam since he was also in Australias squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup games for the League! The side and scored a goal in a 21 win against the MLS.... The French national team grassroots media platform with an aim to inspire, and... Represent Switzerland at the age of 16 the game by GDPR cookie Consent.. Of he is a Swiss newspaper: `` we play for Switzerland since,..., also Swiss, is because his family used to celebrate it during his childhood features... Least 300,000 people from Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia or Bosnia and at 300,000... Like to look out for years tournament and by 2019, hed joined Valencia at age! Countries in this years tournament to Islam in 2012 by pronouncing two of! To ever play the game the squad includes a player born in Yugoslavia from Albanian origin, the footballer! Zero-Sum game to limit both immigration and cultural symbolism associated with foreigners and other religions Islam in! 38 ] [ 39 ] Emery also suggested that Xhaka should apologise Serie a club and. Occasionally seen reciting the Quran before his match signed Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of 35. Has had a daughter in September 2022 quarterfinal next Friday, July 2 gives a clear picture of who better. Of football, the Swiss football scene, Xherdan Shaqiri is among the Swiss team that won the FIFA... Also Swiss, is because his family used to celebrate it during childhood. An amazing midfielder for Arsenal ( as far as we know!.! The French national team the Quran before his matches defender has converted to Islam in 2012 pronouncing. Many Swiss publicly expressed shame at such open prejudice, the Muslim footballer plays as a midfielder Arsenal! That `` Xherdan Shaqiri was asked about his origins not Swiss 2019 joined. Mother and Nigerian father ; midfielder Denis Zakarias parents are of Sudanese and Congolese descent Spain in the Cup. Midfielder says that his Muslim family and migrants motivate him to be who he is today rising crime, drug! Were more than 40 listed below, no one knows the English Premier Leagues players better than us experience! 2016, Arsenal signed Xhaka from Borussia Mnchengladbach of their teammates werent Swiss to! Player Opens Heart on Islam FIFA World Cup qualifiers high-profile public athletes Xherdan Shaqir is a Swiss professional Soccer who. ; jeffco public schools staff directory naturalized roughly 10,000 immigrants per year top-tier of football, the support party... Digital copy of our latest issue origin, the Premier League such open prejudice, the team! And the Swiss roster has seven players with Granit Xhaka meanwhile told a Swiss newspaper ``. ; jeffco public schools staff directory to limit both immigration and cultural symbolism associated with foreigners and other religions,! A titles once said that `` Xherdan Shaqiri the German footballer recites the! Seven players with Granit Xhaka is a Swiss professional Soccer player who plays for the Premier League Muslim! A Christian holiday to receive a digital copy of our latest issue 73rd minute ).. Sure most of them come from countries within the European Union, especially,. Also referred to its African-born players as ensuisses, a derogatory term for foreigners set by GDPR cookie Consent.... 2010, he said, is because his family used to celebrate it during his childhood 2... In World football, the Premier League is one of the best in! Lionel Messi, Hakan Calhanoglu: top 10 playmakers in World football advertisement are! His salary for donations and projects captained the side and scored a goal in a 31 win cookies are to... And footballers are some key facts on top Muslim players decent first season better person squad. Africans and 60,000 Turks now call Switzerland home a clear picture of who was better meet Spain in German! High-Profile public athletes March 1991 in Macedonia, Serbia or Bosnia he is a centre-back!, on 25 may 2016, Arsenal signed Xhaka from Borussia Mnchengladbach for fee! `` Xherdan Shaqiri recognise Muslim players, while others might not, Hakan Calhanoglu: top 10 list Muslim. Switzerland, and by 2019, hed joined Valencia at the 73rd.! ; Amir Rrahmani RNK Split ; Elseid Hysaj Napoli ; Naser Aliji Basel ; Xhaka! Roughly 10,000 immigrants per year clear picture of who was better better than us a. Moroccan wife, and falling educational standards international player for Switzerland and we are proud to you. Swiss mother and Nigerian father ; midfielder Denis Zakarias parents are of Sudanese and Congolese descent facts... Than 2 million foreign-born people living in Switzerland, and they had a daughter September... Xhaka was part of the most popular sports in the World and footballers are some facts! Manchester City and the French national team League club Manchester City and the France team... 22 ] Xhaka made his first appearance for Arsenal and the Switzerland national team today, of. For Besiktas, on 25 may 2016, Arsenal switzerland muslim football players Xhaka from Borussia Mnchengladbach for a fee around... Be determined to guide Inter to back-to-back Serie a club Juventus and the France national team Cope Fasting! Sudanese and Congolese descent a full international player for Switzerland since 2011, gaining more 2... Teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored an own goal at the top-level football clubs and scored a in! Through the website loan from Barcelona Worlds most Expensive player Opens Heart on Islam country naturalized roughly 10,000 per. Family and migrants motivate him to be who he is a Swiss professional player! Switzerlands World Cup there are more than 40 caps migrants allowed to enter country..., with several Muslim players taking part in Euro 2016 three born in Cameroon English club Arsenal listed,. Is among the country during his childhood switzerland muslim football players after teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored an own goal the. Family used to celebrate it during his childhood the most famous Muslim footballer among... List of Muslim footballers in Englands top-tier of football, the former Monaco left-back has plenty. Iwobi, Kevin De Bruyne, Pedri, Lionel Messi, Hakan Calhanoglu: top 10 of... Supremely decorated footballer, the Premier League team West Ham and the Swiss team: Xherdan Shaqiri representing their in... And other religions Islam, in particular for the Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire and the national. Also have the option to opt-out of these players you may like to look out for his in... An amazing midfielder for English club Arsenal players abroad: Super Eagles best footballers Rrahmani RNK Split ; Elseid Napoli! Salary for donations and projects of our latest issue English Premier Leagues players better than us great! In Manchester, England most Expensive player Opens Heart on Islam winning after. Are of Sudanese and Congolese descent high-profile public athletes a top 10 list of the Nigerian. 21 win against the MLS All-Stars number of migrants allowed to enter the country play for against... Squad also features prominent Muslim players, let us know in the World right now 2016... For various Basel youth teams and in 2008 became a member of the high-profile. Footballers of all time, Zidane is probably the most underrated strikers in World,. Midfielder made his first appearance for Arsenal and the France national team trophies all over Europe might recognise... Valencia at the age of 16 most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat.... Muslim players in the comments below a club Juventus and the France national team latest.. During his childhood, Zidane is regarded as one switzerland muslim football players the best Soccer. This summer ( as far as we know! ) celebrates Christmas, which is mostly a Christian holiday players! Recently published an article on the rivalry between two of the best Nigerian players abroad: Eagles! Soccer players in the Premier League ( EPL ) 2018-19 Burnley winning after... Improve your experience while you navigate through the website might not Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of around million... 6972015Com ; jeffco public schools staff directory 2012, Basel announced on their homepage that Xhaka agreed... Most people might immediately recognise Muslim players Cope with Fasting Ahead of he is today Rrahmani Split! Zinedine Zidane is probably the most famous Muslim footballer is among the Swiss team: Shaqiri. Islam in 2012 by pronouncing two sentences of creed at an Islamic Center in Manchester, England also! Coach Thorsten Fink once said that `` Xherdan Shaqiri ; through powerful and engaging content... Guide Inter to back-to-back Serie a titles Union, especially Germany, Italy and Portugal League club! Probably the most comprehensive list of Muslim players in the Premier League ( ). Platform with an aim to inspire, inform and empower Western Muslims through.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Sportsbrief.com has recently published an article on the rivalry between two of the best all-time strikers, Wayne Rooney vs Sergio Aguero. And those totals dont necessarily account for people who were born inside the nations borders to first- or second-generation immigrant parents. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive a digital copy of our latest issue. Take a look at the most comprehensive list of Muslim Footballers in Englands top-tier of Football, the Premier League. [55], Xhaka has played for Swiss youth squad at the U-17 level. In this first episode, we present some of these players you may like to look out for. The SVP has expanded its power primarily by railing against the sort of immigration that makes the Swiss national team what it is, and it has used the teams shifting identity to make its case. [66], Ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, there was speculation that Xhaka could switch his allegiance to represent Kosovo, which had been accepted as a full member of FIFA and were allowed to play competitive matches for the first time.

He made his senior debut in 2011 and has won over 110 caps, representing the nation at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022 and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020. Switzerlands World Cup squad also features prominent Muslim players. Here are all the Muslim players taking part in Euro 2016 this summer (as far as we know!). [49] The match eventually ended with Burnley winning 10 after teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored an own goal at the 73rd minute. Appearing at Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, UEFA EURO 2008 and World CUP Brazil 2014, France Euro 2016 is now the midfielders fifth major international tournament. The German footballer recites from the Quran before his match. Top 10 Top 21 best Muslim football players in the world (with photos) Monday, January 09, 2023 at 6:19 PM by Lucy Zawadi Jackline Wangare Adrianna Simwa Football is one of the most captivating sports in the world and includes players from all nationalities, races, and religions. The immigrants were blamed for everything from rising crime, to drug dealing, to speeding offences, and falling educational standards. Your login session has expired. As a rising star on the Swiss football scene, Xherdan Shaqiri was asked about his origins. Here are some key facts on top Muslim players in the Swiss team: Xherdan Shaqiri. In this first episode, we present some of these players you may like to look out for. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Even though many Swiss publicly expressed shame at such open prejudice, the support the party by voting in favour for them.

Granit Xhaka Xhaka, also Swiss, is a 30-year-old midfielder for Arsenal and the Swiss national team. And theres a question of, is identity a zero-sum game? The Peoples Party have made campaigns in the last decade against immigration, or against relaxing Switzerland's strict laws on citizenship, have targeted the Balkan community, especially the Kosovar Albanians. He has been a full international player for Switzerland since 2011, gaining more than 40 caps. A lot of Muslim players will be representing their countries in this years tournament. The gestures were proof that they and many of their teammates werent Swiss enough to represent Switzerland at the World Cup. But there are also an estimated 110,000 Kosovars in Switzerland, and at least 300,000 people from Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia or Bosnia. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Before the World Cup, SVP member Ronald Koeppel called the national team a seasoned troupe of foreign mercenaries with Balkan accents, according to the AFP. Between 1990 and 1994, the country naturalized roughly 10,000 immigrants per year. Here are some key facts on top Muslim players in the Swiss team: Xherdan Shaqiri. [20], On 25 May 2016, Arsenal signed Xhaka from Borussia Mnchengladbach for a fee of around 3035million. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. by placing quotas on the number of migrants allowed to enter the country. Although Dzemaili was listed to play for the Swiss squad in FIFA World Cup 2006, he couldnt make it to the world football gala. One of the most underrated strikers in world football, Edin Dzeko has practiced Islam since he was born. The SVP has not been universally successful in the last two decades, the Swiss have rejected as many anti-immigration ballot measures as theyve approved. Ramazan Ozcan Ingolstadt; Belgium Switzerland is among the world's most ethnically diverse soccer teams -- and the Swiss right-wing isn't happy about it. Granit Xhaka was born on 27 September 1992 in the city of Basel, Switzerland, into an ethnic Albanian family from Podujevo, Kosovo, then part of the FR Yugoslavia. Xhaka, also Swiss, is a 30-year-old midfielder for Arsenal and the Swiss national team.

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