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Why does a player get carded when celebrating a goal?
January 9, 2009 | Water Cooler | Add a comment
A goal in soccer is like a shooting star. It’s so exciting to see one, but it doesn’t happen very often. And because of that, a player who scores a goal wants to celebrate and enjoy the moment when the net ripples. Unfortunately, FIFA decided to squash celebrations and allowed referees to penalize players who celebrate with a yellow card. Why?
Players removing their shirts after scoring has been considered unsportsmanlike behavior by FIFA for quite some time. However, it was left up to the referee to actually penalize players. FIFA changed the law in 2004 mandating referees to give a yellow card to players who remove their shirts while celebrating goals. FIFA also mandated referees to give a yellow card to players who climb or jump over the perimeter fence of the field.
I know why FIFA was trying to prevent players from climbing or jumping the perimeter fence of the field. They were hoping to limit the number of injuries that occurred when fans rushed toward the players. But does anyone get hurt from players removing their shirts?
There have been instances where players had some sort of writings underneath their shirts. Usually, these writings were geared toward their families, a love note to a wife or the name of a newborn child. I don’t recall anything negative ever being seen, unless you want to consider the joke played by Landon Donovan of the U.S. National Team when he had a woman’s sports bra underneath his shirt!
There will always be players who take celebrations to the extreme. But there is a fine line between an honest celebration of a well deserved goal or a mocking of an opponent. Why punish those players who have broken through the net’s atmosphere and created a rippling effect that can be seen and heard for miles?
Do you think FIFA is right in penalizing a player who celebrates a goal? Please leave your comments below!
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5 Commentators
I can see jumping over the fence, or climbing a wall, or the goal to all be considered unsportsmanlike, pretty much anything that could cause the player, other players or even the fans injury should be considered an offence and a yellow or red card should be given. But taking off their shirt…or jumping up and down (on the field) should not be considered offensive.
On January 9, 2009 Danie said
i think the age-old adage “no harm, no foul” comes into play here. jumping fences and goals etc can be potentially very dangerous hence i would agree with the carding. however, a player taking his shirt off in celebration? that could really only be dangerous to the player (think Tom & Jerry where the stupid cat keeps running into the rake) and the only other time it could be potentially harmful is if there were derogatory statements written on the player’s body. if thats the case it should still be on a case-by-case basis not every single player who does it.
On January 9, 2009 Jake said
Why make a major stoppage of play after a goal? OK, give an extra moment or two but the clok is running. Restart much like after a free kick is awarded. Allow the scored upon team to place the ball at center and all get onto their half of field and then have the ref restart play. If the scoring team is still doing back-flips behind the net that is their problem.
On June 26, 2010 J howard said
It’s a soccer match, not the Mr. Universe competition. Keep your shirt on and get on with the game.
On November 6, 2010 DET said
i think it is not a good rule beacause its not like there in there faces or anything but i do it all the time.
On January 5, 2012 Angel said
