The removal of the jersey Goal Celebration The removal of the jersey USSF Notes Why are we concerned about this? Because the International Football Association Board (IFAB) recently notified all member national associations that a change had been made in the Laws of the Game as of 1 July 2004. The Board added a new Decision (#6) under Law 12 that covered this subject. All referees are obligated to implement this Decision as of that date. This is not, however, the first time that the issue of players removing their jersey to celebrate a goal has come up.

Law 12 - Decision 6 A player who removes his jersey when celebrating a goal must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.* The removal of the jersey after a goal has been scored is unnecessary and players must avoid such excessive displays of celebration. The removal of a jersey is defined as removing the jersey over the head or covering the head with the jersey. (Q&A and Additional Instructions for Referees., Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials) *Approved by IFAB (02/28/2004), effective from 1 July 2004. USSF Notes Note that the International Board has tied its concern for jersey removal to the related issue of delays in restarting play due to excessive celebrations by players. In effect, the Board has mandated a caution for delaying the restart of play whenever a player (presumably, a substitute as well) removes a jersey following his or her team’s scoring of a goal. “Removing” is defined as taking the jersey off but it included pulling the jersey over the head even if it does not come completely off.

Law 12 - Decision 6 Yellow card USSF Notes Why? Because clearly the jersey has been removed.

Law 12 - Decision 6 Yellow card USSF Notes Why? Because clearly the jersey has been removed (remember, this includes taking the jersey over the head).

Law 12 - Decision 6 yellow card USSF Notes Why? Because clearly the player has removed the jersey (again, remember that this includes pulling the jersey over the head, even if the removal is not complete). yellow card

Yellow card for both players Law 12 - Decision 6 Yellow card for both players USSF Notes Why? Because clearly the jerseys have been removed. As this example makes clear, it doesn’t make any difference that the player may have something else on under the jersey – even if that “something else” were a complete replica of the jersey that had been removed!

X Law 12 - Decision 6 No yellow card USSF Notes Why? Because clearly the player has not taken the jersey off, nor even pulled it over his head. Note that the player may not be finished with his action and removal may follow. At this point, anyway, the player is not in violation of Law 12, IBD 6. The intelligent referee may well find here an opportunity to advise the player that he should think carefully about what he does next. No yellow card

Law 12 - Decision 6 The restriction applies to ANY player celebrating a goal, not just the player who scored the goal. The restriction applies even if other clothing is being worn under the jersey. The caution is MANDATORY if the jersey is removed, but any action less than removal may also be cautioned if, in the opinion of the referee, the restart of play is being excessively delayed. USSF Notes To recap: The restriction is not limited to a complete removal of the jersey – pulling the jersey over the head or using the jersey to cover the head is enough. It doesn’t matter if the player has anything on underneath nor does it matter exactly what the player may have on underneath (including an exact replicate of the removed jersey). The restriction applies to ALL players on the scoring team, not just the player who scored. The caution is mandatory. That said, referees need to understand that there may be additional issues to consider. For example, if the removal of the jersey reveals words or pictures (written on an undershirt or on the skin itself), the referee must determine if this “language” is itself cautionable as unsporting or even worthy of a send-off (if abusive, insulting, or offensive). If words or pictures are revealed which are not themselves misconduct, the referee must still include details in the match report to the competition authority (see Board Decision 1 of Law 4). If the player’s actions stop short of “removal,” the referee remains obligated to determine if the player is nevertheless still delaying the restart of play and may thus be cautioned anyway.

Should this player be cautioned? Law 12 - Decision 6 Quick Quiz time! Should this player be cautioned? USSF Notes Why? Because the player has removed his jersey (even though he is also wearing an undershirt). Note that the undershirt has text on it and thus, at minimum, this situation needs to be included in the referee’s match report to the competition authority. YES!