Goal celebrations are some of the most exciting moments in football—full of emotion, personality, and sometimes even a bit of controversy. But while most celebrations are harmless fun, a few have crossed the line in the eyes of referees or football authorities. Whether due to props, gestures, or provocation, these moments have led to fines, suspensions, and even bans. Here are seven memorable cases where players were actually punished for the way they celebrated a goal.
Emmanuel Adebayor
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In 2009, Adebayor scored for Manchester City against his former club Arsenal. He sprinted the full length of the pitch to celebrate directly in front of Arsenal’s away fans. The moment sparked outrage and led to a fine. It’s remembered as one of the most dramatic celebrations ever.
Giorgos Katidis
By Catherine Kõrtsmik – Flickr: U-19 England vs Greece., CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21747791
After scoring a winning goal for AEK Athens, Katidis made a gesture that caused controversy. The Greek football federation reacted quickly, deciding to take action. His celebration led to a long-term suspension from national team duty. It remains a heavily discussed moment in Greek football.
Ronaldo mimicked Diego Simeone’s earlier celebration after scoring a hat-trick for Juventus against Atlético Madrid. He pointed toward his waist in a bold and cheeky gesture. UEFA fined him $23,000 for improper conduct. Fans saw it as a heated rivalry played out in gestures.
Paolo Di Canio
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Di Canio scored for Lazio and made a salute that stirred plenty of debate. The action was seen as highly provocative and not in line with fair play. He was fined and warned by football authorities. It remains one of the more controversial goal celebrations in Serie A history.
Carlos Tevez
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During a Boca Juniors match against River Plate, Tevez celebrated by flapping his arms like a chicken. It was meant to mock the rival team’s nickname. The referee didn’t appreciate the humor and gave him a red card. He was also suspended after the match.
Granit Xhaka & Xherdan Shaqiri
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Both players scored for Switzerland at the 2018 World Cup in a high-tension game against Serbia. They celebrated with a hand gesture symbolizing their heritage, which caused political reactions. FIFA fined both players and discouraged future use of the symbol. The incident drew headlines worldwide.
Neymar
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While playing for Santos, Neymar scored and celebrated by wearing a custom mask of his own face. He had received it from a fan in the stands. The referee gave him a second yellow card for using props and sent him off. Even fun celebrations can have consequences in football.
