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] It is also sometimes viewed as alluding to the Greater Albania irredentist concept. [3]
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. [4] It has also been used by some ethnic Albanians playing for other teams. [5]
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". [6] [7] [8] [9] 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. [10]
During a traditional annual Montenegrin high-diving competition held in July 2025 at the iconic "Vezirov most" bridge in Podgorica, diver Shkëlzen Goqi was disqualified for making the Albanian double-headed eagle gesture before his dive. [11] Popular Montenegrin media, such as Pobjeda, described the symbol as connected to the notion of a "Greater Albania" and labeled Goqi's act as a "provocation." [12] [13]
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. [14]
