The Premier League is contemplating sanctions for players whose goal celebrations are deemed to be detrimental to the sport’s reputation or have the potential to incite opposition fans or players.
Recent incidents have sparked this discussion, with criticism over players crossing the line by taunting opponents. For example, Iliman Ndiaye received a yellow card for imitating a seagull with his arms after scoring for Everton against Brighton.
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly copied Erling Haaland‘s celebration in a match against Manchester City, but faced no consequences.
Previously, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy mimicked an eagle in a goal celebration against Crystal Palace and teased Tottenham fans in a match where Leicester won 2-1. Despite these actions, Vardy was not cautioned.
This season, Phil Foden (Manchester City) and Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United) pretended to shoot imaginary guns towards the crowd after scoring goals, but their actions went unpunished.
“There’s a balance. I think we all like to see celebrations. Some of the celebrations have been very funny, entertaining, but there’s a line.
“Once it crosses over into mockery or criticism then we would need to deal with it,” the Premier League’s chief football officer, Tony Scholes, said.
