What does Effenberg's gesture look like and its history?

Many of you have heard of such a concept as the "Effenberg gesture." What it is? This is the name of the phallic symbol among football fans. In 1994, a crowd of fans booed Stefan Effenberg, to which he showed them his middle finger.

Gesture Effenberg in the address of the fans

The midfielder of the German soccer team showed a phallic gesture in the 75th minute of the game between Korea and Germany. The match was held in the USA. The fans were angry at the football player for the fact that he played listlessly. 15 minutes before the end of the game, Effenberg was replaced. Leaving the field, he heard in his address a whistle and impartial statements. This offended the player, and he showed the fans a corresponding gesture. Interestingly, the incident was more memorable to the fans and the public than the game of the team.

Later Effenberg wrote the book "I showed it" to "everyone!", Where he told about his football career and about this incident. In the book it was described that the trainer Effenberg on the same night broke off with the player's relationship, because he did not want superfluous provocations from the press and fans. Stefan Effenberg was expelled from the national team and held only two friendly matches in it four years later. After some time the player was forgiven and asked to return to football, but he himself did not express such a desire. By the way, in Germany for demonstration of an indecent gesture a fine was imposed.

It is considered very indecent and characteristic for the marginal environment, this "Effenberg gesture." Why is it called, in fact, understandable, but this can be argued. In fact, the gesture appeared much earlier, even in the Ancient World.

Studies of Effenberg's gesture

Desmond Morris, an English anthropologist, believed that the gesture symbolizing the demonstration of the male sexual organ is one of the oldest. In the days of Antiquity, he meant a predisposition to passive homosexuality or symbolized a direct threat of rape.

Effenberg's gesture: the history of origin

In ancient Rome, the middle finger was called shameless, or shameful. Mention of his demonstration can be seen in historical and philosophical writings. Caligula, the emperor of Rome, liked to shock the public. People who came to express their awe, he forced to kiss his middle finger. Diogenes showed an indecent gesture, expressing his attitude towards Demosthenes. The Persian people perceived the gesture of a raised middle finger as a sign of the guard against the evil eye and evil spirits.

Theory of the appearance of the gesture

In the Middle Ages, such a gesture of Effenberg (the photo you see in the article) meant a charge of homosexual relationships. In the XIV century captured English soldiers were cut off index and middle fingers. This was done so that they could not shoot at enemies from the bow. Later, after winning the battle of Agincourt, the British soldiers showed the French middle fingers as a sign that they were not cut off.

Other theories of the appearance of the gesture

There is another version. The French boasted of their ability to shoot a crossbow. As a result, after the defeat, the British demonstrated to the opponents the middle and index finger as a mockery of their crossbowmen.

On the island of Sicily for theft, a person lost his middle finger, if the crime was heavier, then hands to the elbow. Thus, the person showing the middle finger, showed his honesty and non-involvement in theft.

Some scholars believe that the demonstration of aggression through phallic gesture is characteristic not only of a person. Some types of monkeys show these gestures to each other at moments of aggression.

Gesture of different peoples

The French call this gesture a "hand of honor." One arm is bent at the elbow, the other is placed on it in the bend area.

The English demonstrate a phallic gesture in this way: they show the enemy the sign "Victoria", while the palm is facing to itself.

In Arab countries, the equivalent of Effenberg's gesture is a clenched fist with a thumb tossed aside.

Residents of Sri Lanka squeeze their palms, turning it up, and raise their index finger.

In the United States, an indecent gesture was "imported" by Italian immigrants back in the 19th century. In 1886, during a team meeting on baseball, the players showed a phallic gesture to rivals. He meant anger and hatred. In 1976, the phallic gesture was demonstrated by the President of the United States of America Rockefeller in response to the whistling of the crowd. In the state of California, local taxi drivers thus expressed their disappointment or bad luck.

The most memorable cases of the demonstration of the Effenberg gesture in the football environment

For the history of football, athletes have repeatedly demonstrated a phallic symbol, but only a few have been noted in the press.

In 2012, Denis Garmash in the match between Shakhtar and Dynamo Kiev showed an indecent gesture to the fans of the enemy, because of which a major scandal broke out. Midfielder "Dynamo" was punished for this by disqualification for several matches.

In 2009, the Swiss judge Massimo Buzaka in response to the discontent of the fans showed the crowd the middle finger. Later, he apologized, but was disqualified.

In 2011, Ukrainian goalkeeper Alexander Rybka showed Effenberg's gesture to the fans of the opposing team. Such an act remained unpunished.

Coach Fabio Capello in 2007, after the match, twice showed a phallic gesture to the fans of "Real". Such an act was not appreciated, and Capello was forced to pay a fine. Later he explained that for almost five years he was pursued by a couple of crazy fans, an insulting gesture applied to them.

In 1997, Alessandro Nesta showed the English striker an indecent sign at the end of the game. The match ended in a draw, the British reached the final of the World Championship.

In 2011, Ronaldo in response to the insulting behavior of the fans of Bosnia and Herzegovina showed a phallic gesture. The boorish behavior of the fans began at the airport, during the game they tried to blind the player with lasers from the roofs.

In the same year, Luis Suarez "greeted" the fans of "Fulham", for which he was disqualified. Prior to this case, the football player spoke highly of Patrice Evra.

Van Bommel in 2007 showed a characteristic gesture to the fans, running along the stands, after he scored a goal. Subsequently, the football player apologized for his behavior.

In 2009, the Italian Paolo Maldini in response to the insulting trick of the fans showed in the direction of the stands a characteristic gesture. This was his last game as captain.

Attitude to the gesture of Effenberg today

Ira Robbins, a professor and professor at the University of Washington, writes that for a thousand years, this gesture has lost its obvious phallic symbolism, and now his demonstration speaks rather of aggression towards the opponent, expressing protest, as well as demanding to fall behind, leave alone. Many Western stars, wanting to interrupt the shooting, apply the middle finger to the camera lens. Britney Spears often shows the middle finger when journalists start to bother her.

In Milan, a large monument with a phallic gesture was erected on the square. It is called "Suddenly - LOVE". In Florence, the exhibition stores the middle finger of Galileo. After the execution of the scientist, the vandals tried to steal the ring from his finger. As a result, it was cut off. The exhibit has survived to this day.