Crossed hands

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]

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]