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.
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[edit] Common celebrations
- 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, shortly after he joined Tottenham. Klinsmann was actually performing this goal celebration to lampoon his own (in his belief, unjustified) reputation as a player who dived to win free-kicks and penalties.
- 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, taunting the opposing supporters for having suddenly gone silent following his goal.
- The scorer kissing the club badge on his or her shirt, to show his or her love for the club.
- Raúl kisses the ring finger of his right hand after a goal, a salute to his wife. A number of other married players, for example the Korean Ahn Jung Hwan, do the same. In a similar vein, Luis Garcia sucks his thumb upon scoring a goal to salute his child.
- Australian players sometimes "box" the corner post in celebration of a goal. This is because of the boxing kangaroo that Australia is famous for. Most notably Tim Cahill, who ran to box the corner flag, when he scored Australia's first ever World Cup goal in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- The scorer may also sometimes punch the air after a goal. This was started by Brazilian legend Pelé.
[edit] Notable celebrations
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. German forward Miroslav Klose does a forward somersault after scoring, though he omitted his routine in favour of a more modest pointing to the sky action after scoring Germany's equaliser against Argentina in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
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 her toned tummy and her sports bra, immortalized on the covers of Time, Newsweek, People, and Sports Illustrated, is one of the most famous in women's sports history.
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.
The 1982 FIFA World Cup saw some of the most memorable celebrations. The usually quiet Falcão ran the pitch screaming with both his hands raised after scoring Brazil's second goal against Italy. The most memorable celebration came from Italian midfielder Marco Tardelli after scoring Italy's second goal against West Germany in the final. With tears in his eyes, he sprinted into his own half, fists beating against his chest, tears pouring down his face, screaming his name as he shook his head wildly. This is also called the "Tardelli cry". In the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korean forward Ahn Jung Hwan imitated a speed skater after tying the game against the United States, in reference to when a Korean speed skater was controversially sent off allowing the United States to win the the gold medal.
Liverpool's Luis Garcia, celebrates after every goal he scores by sucking his thumb as a sign of love for Joel, his first son. 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.
- Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer always celebrated by raising his right hand with palm open.
- Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho usually exhibits some samba dancing after scoring a goal. Another Brazilian, Kaká, celebrates by raising both his hands and pointing towards the sky to thank God after scoring the goal. This is because Kaka attributes his recovery from a potentially crippling injury and a difficult surgical operation to Jesus. Adriano raises his hands for God and a slaute to his father who passed away a few years ago.
- Tottenham Hotspurs' striker Robbie Keane celebrates with a round-off into a cartwheel, finishing on knee and mimicking the firing of a rifle or an arrow from a bow after he scores. Walter Pandiani, nicknamed "The Rifle", also emulates the firing of a rifle.
- Some players, including Manchester United's Patrice Evra, will congratulate a team-mate on scoring by kneeling down and pretending to shine their shoe.
- Following the death of professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero in 2005, Middlesbrough's James Morrison emulated his signature chest-slapping and shoulder-shaking taunt, as well as John Cena's "You can't see me" hand gesture.
[edit] Exceptions
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 a team is winning by a heavy scoreline.
- When time is running out and the scoring team is desperate for one more goal to equalise or even to win.
- 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, Denis Law, Andy Johnson, Rio Ferdinand, Tim Cahill, Gabriel Batistuta, Pauleta and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink).
[edit] Punishment
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 (e.g., Bastian Schweinsteiger during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Marlon Harewood for West Ham after scoring in the 2006 FA Cup Semi-Fina]]l against Boro, and Carlos Alberto Gomes during the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final). This can cause huge controversy if the player has already been booked, since he would then be sent off. Similarly, in American women's soccer at school and collegiate levels, the practice of taking the shirt off to celebrate a goal (made popular by Brandi Chastain), has been prohibited. However, some players get around this rule by pulling the hem of their shirts over the head, without taking the shirt off entirely, but this is not always overturned by the referees as shown by Italian Stefano Farina, referee of the 28th October, 2006 famous Milan Derby which Inter won 4-3 away in San Siro, he gave Marco Materazzi a second booking and thus a red card for doing that exact act after Materazzi gave Inter a 4-1 lead over Milan.
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 a Premier League match in 2006.
In 1999 Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was fined £60,000 by his club and the FA Premier League for having celebrated his penalty goal against Everton by getting down on all fours and miming the snorting of cocaine off of the white touchline. Although it was seen as Fowler's response to being accused of drug abuse in the tabloid press, then-manager Gérard Houllier famously claimed that he was merely imitating "a cow eating grass" which, Houllier claimed, teammate Rigobert Song had regularly joked about in training.
