Crossed hands (gesture)

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 illustrate 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.[1]

The gesture was created in january 2009, by Artur Shkurti, the author of the book "Besa, feja ime e fëmijëve të mi dhe e bujarëve shqiptarë" (ISBN 978-99956-755-0-9) . On page 32 there is the description of the gesture as part o f the religious ritual for a noble Albanian.

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]

This gesture resembles the double-headed eagle on the Albanian flag. It is also associated with Albanian ethnicity where Albanians call themselves as "Shqiptar" (son of eagle) and their country "Shqipëri" (land of eagles).

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Kosovo-born Swiss players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, both ethnic Albanians, 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]