The crossed hands gesture is a hand signal that denotes Albania in International Sign.[1] Known as shenja e flamurit (flag sign) in Albanian, it is sometimes referred to as the "eagle gesture" and is a symbol used by ethnic Albanians in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and other regions of the world where Albanians live. It is meant to visually demonstrate the double-headed eagle, the main image on the Albanian flag.[2] The symbolism of the double-headed eagle among Albanians encapsulates their ethnicity and flag, viewing it as a symbol that represents ethnic-Albanian people across the globe. Albanians call themselves as "Shqiptar" (son of eagle) and their country "Shqipëri" (land of eagles).[1]
This gesture is often performed by players of the Albania national football team to celebrate a goal or at the end of a victorious game.[3] It has also been used by some ethnic Albanians playing for other teams.[4]
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Swiss players of Kosovan descent Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka and Swiss player Stephan Lichtsteiner, performed the gesture in a match against Serbia and were subsequently fined by FIFA "for unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair-play".[5][6][7][8] In a similar incident during the UEFA Euro 2024 Championship's Serbia–England match, Kosovar journalist Arlind Sadiku directed the gesture at Serbian fans while on a live broadcast; UEFA revoked Sadiku's Euro 2024 media accreditation pass several days later.[9]
During the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, Greek singer of Albanian descent Eleni Foureira made the Albanian patriotic eagle gesture in a photo with Albanian singer Eugent Bushpepa. The image went viral in Albania and Greece, being well-received in the former but causing controversy in the latter.[10]
- ^ a b Kokobobo, Ani (July 2, 2018). "For Albanians, it's not just an eagle. Here's the deeper story on those World Cup fines". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Shqiponja, simboli i flamurit tonë, me famë botërore, interpretohet dhe në duart e afrikanëve, shoqëruar me "grimca" lumturie në fytyrë". SOT News (in Albanian). 25 May 2015.
- ^ "Festimi me gjestin e "Shqiponjës" kthehet në modë". Gjuha Shqipe (in Albanian). 28 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016.
- ^ "World Cup 2018: Fifa investigates Switzerland duo over goal celebrations". BBC News. 23 June 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018.
- ^ Rumsby, Ben (28 June 2018). "Switzerland trio escape bans for Albanian eagle salutes". The Telegraph.
- ^ Lovett, Samuel (25 June 2018). "World Cup 2018: Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri avoid bans after political goal celebrations". The Independent. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "World Cup Mystery Solved: What was the hand gesture made by the Swiss goal scorers?". sports.yahoo.com. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- ^ "Albanian Prime Minister opens account to pay Switzerland players' FIFA fines". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ^ "Euro 2024: Albania most fined nation as matches reignite Balkan feuds". euronews. 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Shqiponja në "Eurovision" tërbon median greke". Gazeta Tema (in Albanian). 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-05-04.