In football, it’s common to see players celebrate with their shirts off after finding the back of the net.
It happens mostly if the player scores an important or classic goal for his team. However, this form of celebration goes against football rules.
The rule which was adopted in 2004 per FIFA’s laws of the game, termed the celebration as ‘Excessive Celebration’ and attracts a yellow card.
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"A player who removes his jersey after scoring a goal will be cautioned for unsporting behavior," the rule reads.
One of the reasons that led to the introduction of the law was that the celebration contributed to waste of time during the game.
Another reason was that the celebration hides the sponsor's name. It's believed that once a goal is scored is when the cameras are on them the longest.
Players are cautioned from removing their shirts while celebrating to protect them from the opposing fans. It is also believed that the celebration causes aggression from opposing fans.
Many players who remove their shirts as they celebrate do so in to reveal a message that is usually written on their inside shirts. Some of the messages may be political and unwelcome by a section of the football community.
Another reason why players are cautioned about the celebration is because of the different cultural beliefs across the world. In Islamic countries taking off a jersey is an insult to the public.
This rule was adopted by FIFA in order to create an equal and tolerant atmosphere during football matches.
Other celebrations that players receive caution against include approaching fans to celebrate in a way that threatens their safety, covering their faces with masks and gesturing in a provocative manner.
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