Goal celebration

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In football (soccer), a goal celebration is a practice that is almost always performed by a particular player once they have scored a goal.

Most celebrations are modest and merely involve the goalscorer being congratulated by team-mates, however some players, such as Lomana LuaLua and Roger Milla amongst others, have a trademark and often extravagant celebration that follows scoring a goal. LuaLua, a former gymnast is capable of multiple flips and somersaults. Milla used to dance around the corner flag. Other famous celebrations in England include the Chelsea team gathering around Dennis Wise, as if posing for a team photo; and the Aylesbury United team, nicknamed The Ducks, going down on their knees, and waddling in a line, with their elbows flapping. Another famous celebration, especially in the United States, is the shirt-stripping moment by American Brandi Chastain after she converted the winning penalty in the 1999 Women's World Cup final against China. The image of Chastain with her shirt off and revealing a sports bra, immortalized on the covers of Time, Newsweek, People, and Sports Illustrated, is one of the most famous in women's sports history.

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Often the more unconventional goal celebrations are carefully choreographed before hand. Examples include

• The scorer rocking his arms from side to side, as though rocking a baby. This usually signifies that the scorer recently became a parent, whether or not for the first time. This was started by Brazil striker Bebeto at the 1994 FIFA World Cup after his quarter-final goal against the Netherlands. He was joined by teammates Romário and Mazinho.
• "diving" onto the pitch in front of one, sliding some feet with arms stretched forward. Allegedly first done so by Jürgen Klinsmann.
• The scorer putting a finger to his mouth, as if telling the (opposition) crowd to be quiet.
• The scorer putting his hand to his ear, signifying that the opposition crowd have suddenly gone silent following the goal.
• Raúl invariably kisses the ring finger of his left hand after a goal, a salute to his wife. A number of other married players do the same.

One of the most memorable choreographed celebrations came when Paul Gascoigne scored against Scotland during the Euro 96 championships. He lay on his back while other England players grabbed water bottles from the touchline and poured water into his open mouth. This celebration mimicked a controversial pre-tournament incident when England players were photographed in a nightclub, sitting in a dentist's chair having alcoholic drinks poured down their throats.

In 1999 Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was fined £60,000 by his club and the FA Premier League after he celebrated scoring against Everton by getting down on all fours and miming snorting cocaine off the touchline, following tabloid accusations of drug abuse. Then-manager Gérard Houllier famously claimed that Fowler was merely imitating "a cow eating grass" which, Houllier claimed, teammate Rigobert Song regularly joked about in training.

In 2001 during England's 5-1 rout of Germany, Emile Heskey put in England's fifth goal and celebrated by simulating a golfer hitting a putt. This celebration was indicative of how easily England demolished Germany on the day.

In 2006, Peter Crouch's 'robo-kop' goal celebration became a fad across England.

Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho usually exhibits some samba dancing after scoring a goal.

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Cases where scoring goals might not be celebrated:

• In a friendly match.
• When a team is losing by a heavy scoreline and the goal won't affect the outcome of the match.
• When time is running out and the scoring team is desperate for one more goal to equalise.
• If a player is unhappy playing for his current team.
• If a player scores against one of his previous clubs, he may not celebrate as a sign of respect (e.g., Robbie Keane).

In recent seasons, The Football Association have tried to crack down on some of the more enthusiastic celebrations in the FA Premier League. If a player incites the crowd and/or takes his shirt off after scoring a goal he is likely to get booked by the referee (eg., Bastian Schweinsteiger during the 2006 FIFA World Cup). This can cause huge controversy if the player has already been booked, he would then be sent off. Jumping into the crowd is also a bookable offence ("deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee's permission", as identified in Law 12), one which caused Arjen Robben to be sent off in an Premier League match in 2006.

See also

• Football culture

External link

• [Celebrating in style - FIFAworldcup.com]

 

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