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| World Cup 2018: The dos and don'ts of celebrating a goal | World Cup 2018: The dos and don'ts of celebrating a goal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Picture the scene: it is the dying moments of a World Cup match and the score is level. You receive the ball and take a speculative shot which sails straight past the goalkeeper and into the top corner. What do you do next? | Picture the scene: it is the dying moments of a World Cup match and the score is level. You receive the ball and take a speculative shot which sails straight past the goalkeeper and into the top corner. What do you do next? |
| Some might run to the touchline and celebrate with a dramatic knee slide. The more acrobatic players may opt for a somersault or a backflip. | Some might run to the touchline and celebrate with a dramatic knee slide. The more acrobatic players may opt for a somersault or a backflip. |
| But for others, the sheer joy of the moment can lead to some unconventional celebrations that draw the attention of the referee or, even more seriously, football's governing body Fifa. | But for others, the sheer joy of the moment can lead to some unconventional celebrations that draw the attention of the referee or, even more seriously, football's governing body Fifa. |
| This is what happened to Switzerland duo Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, who have been fined for their choice of celebration during a 2-1 victory over Serbia last week. | This is what happened to Switzerland duo Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, who have been fined for their choice of celebration during a 2-1 victory over Serbia last week. |
| The families of both players are ethnic Albanians from the former Yugoslavia, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population in Kosovo ended with Nato military intervention in 1999. | The families of both players are ethnic Albanians from the former Yugoslavia, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population in Kosovo ended with Nato military intervention in 1999. |
| After scoring, they made a gesture representing the eagle on the Albanian flag which critics said could inflame tensions among Serbian nationalists and ethnic Albanians. | After scoring, they made a gesture representing the eagle on the Albanian flag which critics said could inflame tensions among Serbian nationalists and ethnic Albanians. |
| So what are the rules when it comes to celebrating a goal? And how should the authorities respond when a celebration goes too far? | So what are the rules when it comes to celebrating a goal? And how should the authorities respond when a celebration goes too far? |
| While players are free to show national flags or symbols - Shaqiri himself displays the Swiss flag on one boot and the Kosovan flag on the other - there is a rule against "provoking the general public". | While players are free to show national flags or symbols - Shaqiri himself displays the Swiss flag on one boot and the Kosovan flag on the other - there is a rule against "provoking the general public". |
| The governing body's disciplinary code makes clear that "anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned with a minimum fine of 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,800)". | The governing body's disciplinary code makes clear that "anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned with a minimum fine of 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,800)". |
| Lawmaking body the International Football Association Board (Ifab) also states that a player must be given a yellow card for "gesturing or acting in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory way". | Lawmaking body the International Football Association Board (Ifab) also states that a player must be given a yellow card for "gesturing or acting in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory way". |
| In the end, Xhaka and Shaqiri were ruled guilty only of "unsporting behaviour". As a result they did not receive bans but fines of 10,000 Swiss francs (£7,632) each, while the team captain Stephan Lichtsteiner will pay a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,816). | In the end, Xhaka and Shaqiri were ruled guilty only of "unsporting behaviour". As a result they did not receive bans but fines of 10,000 Swiss francs (£7,632) each, while the team captain Stephan Lichtsteiner will pay a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,816). |
| Political punishment | Political punishment |
| While no player has ever been banned from the World Cup for provocation, club football has seen its fair share of political celebrations that have led to disciplinary action and a ticking off from the sport's higher-ups. | While no player has ever been banned from the World Cup for provocation, club football has seen its fair share of political celebrations that have led to disciplinary action and a ticking off from the sport's higher-ups. |
| In 1997, Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler showed his support for the city's striking dock workers after scoring against Norwegian team SK Brann. | In 1997, Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler showed his support for the city's striking dock workers after scoring against Norwegian team SK Brann. |
| He lifted his shirt to reveal a T-shirt underneath that read "500 Liverpool dockers sacked since 1995". The player - who would go on to become one of Liverpool's top goal-scorers - was fined £900 for the celebration. | He lifted his shirt to reveal a T-shirt underneath that read "500 Liverpool dockers sacked since 1995". The player - who would go on to become one of Liverpool's top goal-scorers - was fined £900 for the celebration. |
| The laws of the game explicitly state that "players must not reveal undergarments that show political... statements or images". | |
| More recently, French striker Nicolas Anelka was punished after celebrating a goal with the "quenelle" gesture - described as an inverted Nazi salute - while playing for West Bromwich Albion. | More recently, French striker Nicolas Anelka was punished after celebrating a goal with the "quenelle" gesture - described as an inverted Nazi salute - while playing for West Bromwich Albion. |
| Anelka said he did it in support of the controversial French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, who popularised the gesture and has been accused of anti-Semitism. | Anelka said he did it in support of the controversial French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, who popularised the gesture and has been accused of anti-Semitism. |
| The player was banned for five games and fined £80,000 by the Football Association (FA) before being sacked by the club. | The player was banned for five games and fined £80,000 by the Football Association (FA) before being sacked by the club. |
| Rules and regulations | Rules and regulations |
| Ultimately, political gestures are likely to land a player in hot water. But some of the creative celebrations at this year's World Cup have still managed to raise eyebrows while abiding by Fifa's rules. | Ultimately, political gestures are likely to land a player in hot water. But some of the creative celebrations at this year's World Cup have still managed to raise eyebrows while abiding by Fifa's rules. |
| The body states that "players can celebrate when a goal is scored, but the celebration must not be excessive". It adds that "choreographed celebrations are not encouraged and must not cause excessive time-wasting." | The body states that "players can celebrate when a goal is scored, but the celebration must not be excessive". It adds that "choreographed celebrations are not encouraged and must not cause excessive time-wasting." |
| Despite this, players are rarely punished for choreographed celebrations. On Sunday, social media praised the Colombian team for showing off their celebratory dance routine during a 3-0 victory over Poland. | Despite this, players are rarely punished for choreographed celebrations. On Sunday, social media praised the Colombian team for showing off their celebratory dance routine during a 3-0 victory over Poland. |
| England midfielder Jesse Lingard also showed imagination in his celebration inspired by the computer game Fortnite after scoring against Panama on Sunday. | England midfielder Jesse Lingard also showed imagination in his celebration inspired by the computer game Fortnite after scoring against Panama on Sunday. |
| The player's "shoot dance" features as a taunt on the hugely popular game, which the England team are said to be big fans of. | The player's "shoot dance" features as a taunt on the hugely popular game, which the England team are said to be big fans of. |
| Both of these celebrations abide by Fifa's rules, which state that a player must be cautioned for: | Both of these celebrations abide by Fifa's rules, which state that a player must be cautioned for: |
| So providing that jubilant players avoid these no-nos, they are free to express their joy however they see fit. | So providing that jubilant players avoid these no-nos, they are free to express their joy however they see fit. |
| One theory that spread on social media following Portugal's 3-3 draw with Spain and England's win over Panama was that one player must stay on the pitch while the rest of the team is celebrating otherwise their opponents can kick-off. | One theory that spread on social media following Portugal's 3-3 draw with Spain and England's win over Panama was that one player must stay on the pitch while the rest of the team is celebrating otherwise their opponents can kick-off. |
| It came after videos showing Portugal's Jose Fonte and England's Kieran Trippier remaining on the pitch during their teams celebrations were widely shared on Twitter. | It came after videos showing Portugal's Jose Fonte and England's Kieran Trippier remaining on the pitch during their teams celebrations were widely shared on Twitter. |
| But this is incorrect, as Fifa's rules make clear that "for every kick-off, all players, except the player taking the kick-off, must be in their own half of the field of play." | But this is incorrect, as Fifa's rules make clear that "for every kick-off, all players, except the player taking the kick-off, must be in their own half of the field of play." |
| So players can rest easy knowing that - however they choose to celebrate - they can share the ecstasy of scoring with the rest of the team. | So players can rest easy knowing that - however they choose to celebrate - they can share the ecstasy of scoring with the rest of the team. |