Kosovar competitor Shkëlzen Goqi has been disqualified from a traditional high diving competition held yesterday at “Vezirov’s Bridge” in Podgorica. His disqualification followed a symbolic two-headed eagle gesture, which was interpreted as provocative by organizers and a segment of the audience.
The Controversial Gesture and Immediate Reaction
Goqi, known in Kosovo for his high dives and hailing from Gjakova, made the two-headed eagle symbol before his dive. This gesture is common among Albanian athletes to express national identity. According to Montenegrin media, this action was met with whistles from the audience, after which the jury decided on his disqualification. Organizers deemed the gesture a “violation of the event’s rules.”
Official Confirmation and Future Ban
Podgorica’s Secretary for Sport, Darko Nikčević, confirmed the disqualification, emphasizing that “the rules of the event clearly prohibit the display of inappropriate political, national, or other symbols and messages,” Anadolu reported.
Montenegrin media also reported that Evald Krnić, the competition winner, initiated Goqi’s disqualification. “I immediately intervened with the professional jury, which made the decision to exclude him. He then also received a ban from participating in competitions of this type in Podgorica,” Krnić told Montenegrin media.
Goqi’s disqualification has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many users describing his action as an expression of identity and condemning the punishment as disproportionate and politically motivated.
