Premier League ‘would deal with’ goal celebrations that ‘cross into mockery or criticism’

The Premier League will “deal with” players’ goal celebrations if they cross into “mockery or criticism”, the league’s chief football officer has said.

Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye received a yellow card on January 25 after scoring the winner against Brighton and celebrating in front of the home fans by flapping his arms like a bird.

This was deemed by referee Tim Robinson, and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), to have been inflammatory against Brighton, who are known as ‘the Seagulls’.

Football Association rules state: “Players can celebrate when a goal is scored, but the celebration must not be excessive; choreographed celebrations are not encouraged and must not cause excessive time-wasting.” And cautions can be issued for “gesturing or acting in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory way”.

While speaking on various officiating subjects at a media event this week, the Premier League’s chief football officer, Tony Scholes, was asked for his views on how officials should deal with player celebrations.

“There’s a line isn’t there?” Scholes said. “There’s also a balance. We like to see celebrations. Some have been very funny, entertaining. But there’s a line and once it crosses over into mockery or criticism then we’d need to deal with it.”

In Leicester City’s win over Tottenham Hotspur on January 26, forward Jamie Vardy celebrated in front of Spurs fans by pointing to the Premier League logo on his shirt in apparent reference to his side’s title win in 2016. On Sunday, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly celebrated scoring against Manchester City by sitting down in a similar pose to that adopted by City striker Erling Haaland when he scores.

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(Top photo: Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)