Crossed hands
Thecrossed handsgesture is a hand signal that denotesAlbaniainInternational Sign.[1]Known asshenja e flamurit(flag sign) inAlbanian,it is sometimes referred to as the"eagle gesture"and is a symbol used by ethnicAlbaniansin Albania,Kosovo,North Macedonia,and other regions of the world where Albanians live. It is meant to visually demonstrate thedouble-headed eagle,the main image on theAlbanian 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 theAlbania national football teamtocelebrate a goalor at the end of a victorious game.[3]It has also been used by some ethnic Albanians playing for other teams.[4]
In the2018 FIFA World Cup,Swiss players of Kosovan descentXherdan ShaqiriandGranit Xhakaand Swiss playerStephan Lichtsteiner,performed the gesture in a match againstSerbiaand were subsequently fined by FIFA "for unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair-play".[5][6][7][8]In a similar incident during theUEFA Euro 2024Championship's Serbia–England match, Kosovar journalistArlind Sadikudirected the gesture at Serbian fans while on a live broadcast; UEFA revoked Sadiku's Euro 2024 media accreditation pass several days later.[9]
During theEurovision Song Contest 2018,Greek singer of Albanian descentEleni Foureiramade the Albanian patriotic eagle gesture in a photo with Albanian singerEugent Bushpepa.The image went viral in Albania and Greece, being well-received in the former but causing controversy in the latter.[10]
References
[edit]- ^abKokobobo, 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 fromthe originalon 27 September 2016.
- ^"World Cup 2018: Fifa investigates Switzerland duo over goal celebrations".BBC News.23 June 2018.Archivedfrom 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.Retrieved25 June2018.
- ^"World Cup Mystery Solved: What was the hand gesture made by the Swiss goal scorers?".sports.yahoo.com.22 June 2018.Retrieved2018-12-10.
- ^"Albanian Prime Minister opens account to pay Switzerland players' FIFA fines".Sky Sports.Retrieved2023-06-25.
- ^"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.Retrieved2018-05-04.
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