Question Number: 34486

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/25/2022

RE: Pro Professional

Bee Ess of Nottingham , Notts United Kingdom asks...

In the EPL, a player will get a yellow card for jumping into the crowd celebrating. Why do the other players, who didn’t score but still celebrate by jumping over the advertising hoardings with the scorer, not get booked?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Bee,

This is an IFAB law - it applies universally, not just in the EPL:

A player must be cautioned, even if the goal is disallowed, for:

climbing onto a perimeter fence and/or approaching the spectators in a manner which causes safety and/or security issues

So, the law equally applies to all players.

However, for better or for worse, in incidents like this it's typical to only book the one who did it first - the one who started it. A bit similliar to when all players in a wall encroach, usually only one is booked.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bee
Thanks for the question

Law 12 does not discern between goalscorer or any other player on a team. The law applies to all players.

However custom and practise among referees is that the goal scorer is the player most likely to attract the caution although there will be times when a team mate who has acted in a way that a caution is required for obtuse behaviour will be sanctioned.

As Referee Wright mentions it is akin to encroachment by a defensive wall where all the players can be guilty yet generally only one card is issued. Referee mobbing is also not limited to one player yet referees are advised to pick one player to be sanctioned perhaps the player that has come the longest distance or the most vocal. So say rather than 4/5 cards only one card is advised although all could be guilty of the misconduct.

I recall an incident in a game where a player in a defensive wall of three made a derogatory comment when the referee's back was turned. He was unsure who said it and cautioned all three in the wall. It made the referee look somewhat foolish with a card fest.

Where a card is required in the celebration of a goal the referee will focus on the goalscorer who generally initiates the celebration. Funnily enough one rarely sees any player other than the goalscorer remove a shirt in these celebrations. So while multiple players can approach spectators it is generally only the goal scorer that may get sanctioned.
In the recent Leicester v Spurs game which was the subject of a recent question no card was issued to the goalscorer and there were multiple players in among spectators.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Bee,
In addition to what my colleagues have correctly pointed out I would just add that this is perhaps an example of where refereeing practice follows the principle of "what the game wants/expects."

When a scenario such as the one you describe occurs, it's very often when a late goal is scored and the emotions of both players and spectators are running high. If every player who celebrated by approaching the crowd were to be cautioned there would almost inevitably be one or possibly more who had already had a yellow card in the game. While it could be argued that by letter of the law, all the players celebrating in the manner you describe should be cautioned, I don't think that anybody involved with the game really wants to see the unedifying spectacle of multiple players being red carded for celebrating their team scoring a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bee, 
Card happy referees generally do not do well. You do try to pick out ringleaders. Although at times when a player is unresponsive to your officiating no matter which player,  how important ,should he or she NEED to go, off they go!  If there is a  possible  tie  with multiple deserving lads or lassies you might go to a 1st yellow rather than a 2nd yellow thus red  or an on field player versus a keeper. As a neutral official when asking what is best here, the game needs players on the FOP to afford a good game.  In highly emotional and excitable environments an astute refere really must grasp how to quash the campfires not fan the forest fire! 
Cheers