A Caution for a Celebration

[Barrel of Fun]

Following Final Score, I noticed that Piquionne got sent off for jumping into the fans to celebrate what was a crucial goal for them (obviously he is not the first).

Do you think it is right that a player is booked for an overzealous celebration?

I.e. Leaving the pitch to jump into the fans or ripping off their shirt

 

[Seagull_Wes]

I think it's ridiculous, personally. Unless they are clearly and deliberately trying to goad the opposition fans or players then I don't see what the problem is. Just shows how passionate you are about the game. I know if I scored for the Albion i'd go a bit nuts too!

 

[Jim_AFCB]

It's wrong. Football is an emotional and passionate game and it's time this rule was dropped. AS a poster above says, subject to not inciting the opposing fans etc.

 

[Spider]

Cautions for celebrations is absolute rubbish. I assume the reasons for the two main ways of getting booked are a) shirt off as it might be deemed inappropriate by some cultures watching and b) going into the crowd, as it could be potentially dangerous to the player. In which case I'd respond that a) any cultures paying for the right to screen English football have to accept the 'product' as it is and shouldn't have any say in dictating its rules and b) if the player decides he wants to tae the security risks of going into the crowd that is entirely up to him.

The only time a player should be booked for celebrations is inciting opposition fans, which hardly ever happens anyway. Although to be fair, peope get FAR too worked up about it when it happens!

 

[Acker79]

As long as the rule is in place, I don't think the players can complain. They know it's a yellow card offence, and they know if they're already on a yellow card. Having said that it is a silly rule.

Given the way so many rules these days are about health and safety I can see their thinking behind it (often when players leave the pitch and moves to within reach of the fans in the stand, many people will push forward to shake his hand, pat him on he back hug him, whatever, which risks crushing*), but I think it is unnecessary, and the law should be about extreme cases of celebration - those that incite opposition fans/players, those that are deliberately wasting time.

However, I do get annoyed by a couple of things when this debate usually comes up.
1) The idea that it's natural to run around like an idiot, lift your shirt over your head, play out some pre-planned routine to celebrate scoring a goal. It isn't a natural reaction, it is a learned one, and it can be unlearned, if you are willing.
2) (This one is not specific to just yellow cards for goal celebration, but also for dissent, kicking the ball away, etc) The idea that someone is sent off for taking their shirt off. Firstly, they know the rule, it isn't something the ref springs on them after the fact, it's been in the law book for a few years now. They are not getting sent off for overzealous celebrations, they are getting sent off for two yellow cards.

I don't see why players should have the self control that commentators say "you can't go diving in like that when you're on a yellow card", yet not have the self control to reign in celebrations/frustration etc. when they are on a yellow card. You can't make something only a yellow card if you don't already have one, that's unfair on the guy who is booked for celebrating a goal before he dives in recklessly he gets sent off whereas the guy who dives in recklessly goes unpunished when he celebrates in the same fashion.

So yeah, in summary: I have no sympathy for players who get a second yellow for celebrating in a way they know they shouldn't, but I do think they should do away with that law.


*I know the risk is low, and the incidents of people being inured in crushes in goal celebration in the entire history of football is really low, I'm just talking from the point of view of a H&S minded person.

 

[Lincolnshire Seagull]

Haven't seen the incident yet but it seems to me that Piquionne is an absolute disgrace. H
e has cost his team a vital 2 points and his manager is on the verge of losing his job, and still he doesn't stop himself behaving like an idiot - the players know the penalty for doing this. If I was Avram Grant I would fine him the max and kick his arse.

 

[Pantani]

No yellow cards for celebrations should be standard in my opinion. However, along with this the opposing team should be allowed to kick off after a certain amount of time regardless of whether the scoring team are ready. This way we get to have the full excitement of a celebration but the game is not held up unnecesarily.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

As long as the rule is in place, I don't think the players can complain. They know it's a yellow card offence, and they know if they're already on a yellow card. Having said that it is a silly rule.

Given the way so many rules these days are about health and safety I can see their thinking behind it (often when players leave the pitch and moves to within reach of the fans in the stand, many people will push forward to shake his hand, pat him on he back hug him, whatever, which risks crushing*), but I think it is unnecessary, and the law should be about extreme cases of celebration - those that incite opposition fans/players, those that are deliberately wasting time.

However, I do get annoyed by a couple of things when this debate usually comes up.
1) The idea that it's natural to run around like an idiot, lift your shirt over your head, play out some pre-planned routine to celebrate scoring a goal. It isn't a natural reaction, it is a learned one, and it can be unlearned, if you are willing.
2) (This one is not specific to just yellow cards for goal celebration, but also for dissent, kicking the ball away, etc) The idea that someone is sent off for taking their shirt off. Firstly, they know the rule, it isn't something the ref springs on them after the fact, it's been in the law book for a few years now. They are not getting sent off for overzealous celebrations, they are getting sent off for two yellow cards.

I don't see why players should have the self control that commentators say "you can't go diving in like that when you're on a yellow card", yet not have the self control to reign in celebrations/frustration etc. when they are on a yellow card. You can't make something only a yellow card if you don't already have one, that's unfair on the guy who is booked for celebrating a goal before he dives in recklessly he gets sent off whereas the guy who dives in recklessly goes unpunished when he celebrates in the same fashion.

So yeah, in summary: I have no sympathy for players who get a second yellow for celebrating in a way they know they shouldn't, but I do think they should do away with that law.


*I know the risk is low, and the incidents of people being inured in crushes in goal celebration in the entire history of football is really low, I'm just talking from the point of view of a H&S minded person.

I agree with every single word of that

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Back in the day, a shake of the hand and pat on the head sufficed. Bring those days back!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Acker. There is a law stating that we should remain seated for the duration of the game. Have you taught yourself to stay seated and offer a mild ripple of applause when Brighton have scored?

Some goals are more important than others. I never have and never will find myself in a position of scoring for a professional team in front of 20,000+ punch drunk fans. To me, it further sanitises football and it is another one of those things that the authorities pay too much attention to and not address the real issues.

The law states that players should be cautioned for foul and abusive language. How many cards would Rooney et al pick up before they were shipped into club classes to expand their vocabulary?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Back in the day, a shake of the hand and pat on the head sufficed. Bring those days back!

How old are you?!

 

[HseagullsH]

What annoyed me more was Garth Crooks petulance on the matter. Thought Bright was spot on yet Garth just tried to belittle him.

I don't usually moan about pundits but Garth

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Maybe he was trying to get sent off? Timing a suspension in order to make yourself available for a big match coming up is another symptom of the cynicism that affects the game these days.

 

[Giraffe]

It's a ridiculous rule that needs changing. However all the players know the rule.

 

[Gerbil]

It shouldn't be a rule but it is. The players know that and at the end of the day if you do it and get a booking/sent off, then tough shit I'm afraid.

 

[Rowdey]

I thought the 'no shirt off' rule was in part due to the FA/FIFA etc wanting maximize shirt sponsors income/coverage.

You can't see their logo when a goal scorer takes his shirt off, so lets introduce a rule saying you can't do it, but if you do do it, then you get a card, and extended coverage of that player putting his shirt back on (with a nice logo on it)

Bingo.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

I thought the 'no shirt off' rule was in part due to the FA/FIFA etc wanting maximize shirt sponsors income/coverage.

You can't see their logo when a goal scorer takes his shirt off, Bingo.

This

 

[Acker79]

Acker. There is a law stating that we should remain seated for the duration of the game. Have you taught yourself to stay seated and offer a mild ripple of applause when Brighton have scored?

I have. Well, I had my vocal supporting nature punched out of me in pavlovian style by an older brother at a key stage in my development as a football fan.

To me, it further sanitises football and it is another one of those things that the authorities pay too much attention to and not address the real issues.

I don't disagree, well, I hate the 'sanitising football' argument, but I agree it is an unnecessary law that does nothing to improve the game.

The law states that players should be cautioned for foul and abusive language. How many cards would Rooney et al pick up before they were shipped into club classes to expand their vocabulary?

I happen to think this is a law referees should have more balls about applying. Graham Poll recently admitted he was wrong not to book Rooney for swearing at him, particularly a high profile incident where Rooney swore at him 27 times or something, feeling that had he took action more referees would be inclined to, or perhaps rooney would have learnt. If refs let players get away with such disregard, why should anyone subscribe to the respect campaign?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I neglected to add more to that post. I wanted to say that I hate the lazy term 'sanitisation' and that it is unwise to cross compare offences.