The shirt rule as old as it is is controversial

Undoubtedly one of the pictures of this weekend is when Baena lifted his shirt after scoring the equalizing goal against Almeria to show off a t-shirt that says “Thank you everyone simplicity“. Reaction that prompted the referee Richard of Burgos he was shown a yellow card, which was his second, and sent off from the field of play.

A fact that the Basque international collegiate collects on two different points in the arbitration record. On the one hand, in the warning section, where he describes in words “In the 56th minute, the player (16) Baena Rodriguez, Alexander was cautioned for the following reason: Raised his shirt over his head after scoring a goal”.

And in another one in the section on other incidents where it describes that: “Other incidents: (Player: Alexander Baena Rodriguez) After scoring the goal, he showed off an undershirt with the following slogan: “Thank you everyone simplicity.”

Because of this we have to distinguish between two aspects. On the one hand, the shirt rule and on the other hand, the message that the footballer of Villarreal.

Regarding the first, the rule of IFAB (International Board) in the section celebrating a goal where it is stated that “players may celebrate the achievement of a goal but not excessively so; choreographed celebrations should not be encouraged and should not cause excessive loss of time. Even the a goal is disallowed, The player must watch out for any of the following four actions: climbing perimeter fences or approaching spectators creating safety concerns, acting in a provocative or excited manner way, covering the head or face with a mask or objects, and remove the T-shirt or head covering”

Later Richard of Burgos the rule applies perfectly. But there was added the motto that Baena He exposed when he put on his shirt and the consequences it would bring to the footballer. Because the regulations also prohibit any display of the slogan on a shirt. Whatever the message. A ban established since FIFA.

Article 96 of the present Disciplinary Code It is clear in relation to these celebrations that it qualifies as a serious event. It literally says “The soccer player who, on the occasion of scoring a goal or for any other reason arising from changes in the game, raises his shirt and displays any kind of advertising, motto, legend, acronyms, anagrams or drawings , regardless of its content or the purpose of the action, will be punished, as the author of a serious offense, with a fine of up to 3,000 euros and a reprimand, and the arbitrator recorded in the arbitration record in the warning or incident section.”

It’s a thing Richard of Burgos This was recorded in the minutes, precisely in the section of other incidents, with disciplinary consequences for Baena.

Leo Messi’s precedent after Maradona’s death

But we also have a precedent for something similar, as we explained yesterday in this newspaper, and that was after the death of Diego Armando Maradona in November 2020. Then Leo Messi, taking advantage of the outcome of a goal against Osasuna, the fourth in the account of the azulgrana team, took off his shirt to reveal another from Pelusa during his time at Newells. Something that Antonio Mateu Lahoz punished with a yellow card. This is how the referee recorded it in the arbitration record:

“In the 73rd minute the player (10) Messi Cuccittini, Lionel Andres was warned for the following reason: For removing his shirt, after scoring a goal, showing the new Newell’s Old Boys team shirt, from the 93/94 season, with the number 10 on the back”

On December 2, 2020, the Competition Committee punished Leo de Messi’s actions with a yellow card and a fine of 601 euros. The lowest level within the bass. The Barça club was also fined 350 euros. The Appeals Committee dismissed the appeal filed by the Barça team for the fine and the card of the Argentine.

A rule that Jonah’s behavior towards the children or Villa changed due to his injury

This article of the Disciplinary Code had to be changed at that time because of complaints about the disciplinary consequences it had when, in most cases, it was a message of love, closeness, etc.

In the past, this type of punishment was accompanied by the same reprimand but a fine that started at two thousand and reached up to three thousand euros today. In the current one, the starting point is a minimum of zero, allowing a very low value to be applied the first time.

The former standard was suffered by David Villa, Jona or Messi himself when he decided to congratulate his mother in 2011 with the shirt. Jonah’s gesture and his message of support for children suffering from cancer was especially noticeable and resulted in this change in regulation. It was in February 2014 when he showed the “Cheer up little ones” shirt for which he was fined two thousand euros and the subsequent reprimand. There is also the example of Diego Castro in 2010 showing the face of the late Preciado, who was his coach, after scoring a goal. Or David Villa and his thanks to the family, who supported him during the long injury.

All this has resulted in updating the consequences of discipline in our football but starting from the origin that FIFA definitely prohibits any display of a motto on a shirt. And this indicates its acceptance throughout the world of football.