Why Football Players Get Booked for Taking Their Shirt Off During Matches

• Taking off the jersey is a popular form of celebration amongst footballers
• Most football fans don't know the reason players are booked for doing the celebration
• Aside FIFA rules, there are other reasons behind being booked for taking off your shirt

The most important aspect of football is a goal, and sometimes players tend to take off their shirts to celebrate it.

Several players have been involved in these actions, which is a breach of law in football, and are punished for it.

A player is shown a yellow card for breaking this law, but most fans don't know the reason why the centre referee does this.

During the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala was in the news for this bookable offence.

The Barcelona Femeni striker took off her shirt after coming from the bench to score Nigeria's third against the host nation Australia in their second group game.

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Another famous shirt-off celebration, was when former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli did such against Germany after scoring for Italy in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.

Why taking off your shirt is a yellow card offence

According to Sports bible, section 12 of the FIFA rules, claims that;

• The referee thinks he is cheering with provocative, mocking or instigative gestures,
• He climbs up a fence to celebrate a goal,
• He takes off his shirt or pulls it over his head,
• He covers his head or face with a mask or similar objects.

According to former chairman of the DFB Referee Committee, Volker Roth, the act could be down to cultural differences.

“In Islamic countries, taking off a jersey is an insult to the one who has to look.”

Some players also indulge in such acts in order to advertise a product.

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Oshoala, Four Other Footballers Removed Their Shirts

Sport Brief reported that the former Arsenal and Liverpool forward Asisat Oshoala is not the only female player to have removed her shirt while celebrating a goal.

Four more female footballers who removed their shirts after scoring were also listed.

Removing your shirt remains an offence according to the laws of the game, as it earns one a booking. It is, however, not as common in the women's game, but at times you cannot blame one for failing to control her emotions.