Exactly. Time out for a non-violent war story. I was doing a high school boys' varsity game, dual with a USSF grade 5, everyone had expected the game to be a blowout win by the home team, only it wasn't, so the home players were getting frustrated and their coach was over the top frustrated. (A year or two later, I found out that he was "dating" the guys on his team, but that's another story.) At this point, the coach had already been excused to spend the rest of the game in the bus. One of his players gets a caution and my partner tells him, "Have a seat, son." The player then turns around and drops trow. Red card! The next day, my partner, working on his game report, calls me and asks "What do I put that under?" "Foul language, Roy. It doesn't have to be verbal." Home team finally won, even though they were playing two short by the end of the game. We refer to that game as "the night that Roy [my dual partner] got mooned."
Didn't somebody in Italy do this recently too? At least they got the message about not taking their shirts off. Players will always look for a way around the rules. I've always wondered why players decide to take off their shirts in the first place. It seems like such an odd reaction to scoring a goal. And since by now everyone should know it's an automatic caution you'd think that would stop it. But frankly I've never understood why FIFA and the IFAB have their knickers in suck a twist over a player whipping off his shirt to celebrate. Even though I don't understand why players do it, I've never seen it as harming anyone. Unless they have some sort of inflammatory message underneath.
Here is the official statement from the IFAB (via the AYSO) in 2004: Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct; New Decision 6 The new decision reads as follows: A player who removes his jersey when celebrating agoal must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour. IFAB’s Reason: “The removal of the jersey after a goal has been scored is unnecessary and players must avoid such excessive displays of celebration.”
That's pretty much circular reasoning. It's unsporting because it's excessive, and it's excessive because it's unnecessary. So why is this particular means of celebration considered “unnecessary”, as opposed to all of the other ways a player may celebrate a goal (that are, presumably, “necessary”)? Well, because it's unsporting.
Here's another one to add to the list of unnecessary / excessive / unsporting goal celebrations. This one resulting in a direct expulsion. Russian league this past Sunday. Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 Volga Nizhny Novgorod in injury time when Roman Shirokov, Zenit's captain, scores then salutes the away supporters. www.youtube.com/watch?&v=qJtQOROamV4
The shirt identifies the player as the shirt has the required number on it. Take off the shirt, you lose the ability to identify the player. As to why? blame USWNT! - Ms. Chastain!
Though the directive entered the Laws after Chastain in 1999, there was a mandatory instruction prior to her ever doing that, so it's a bit of a myth to totally blame her. Plus, she removed her shirt once the match--actually, the tournament--was over. I don't think any ref in the world is actually booking a player for removing their shirt after winning a tournament via kicks from the mark. At least I hope not. As to the original impetus, I've heard two that are plausible. One is that it's a worldwide game and partial nudity is highly frowned upon in certain areas or cultures of the world. Another is that, as the shirts were getting tighter and more form-fitting, they were becoming more difficult for players to get back on quickly once they were drenched in sweat; so, it was an issue of timewasting. Not sure how true either is, but those two points were definitely discussed around the time shirt removal became a yellow card. Also, the issue of political slogans or whatnot on undershirts was discussed at the time, but then that got clarified later.
I've been thinking of that and it just hit me... after she scored, wasn't the game over or was there another kick? If the game was over, couldn't she take her shirt off without any repercussions?
So if the game is over and she walks up to the goalie and punches her in the nose, or drops trow in front of you while saying you are a joke, etc etc, no repercussions? Same thing, our authority (and player responsibility) continue after the final whistle until we leave the area.
So when international players exchange jerseys after a match they should be cautioned? I don't think it is that hard to differentiate between offensive or violent conduct after a game has been concluded, and celebration that is no longer held to the standard of excessive/not excessive because no potential delay is at issue.
Oh, yeah? Had the players lined up for the post-game handshake? And what about the “Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate?”