England’s footballers have been ordered to curtail their goal celebrations in a move that shows how seriously the England Football Association (FA) regards European governing body Uefa’s threat to ban the team from Euro 2004 if there is a repeat of the pitch invasions that marred the qualifying match against Turkey in Sunderland.
Under intense pressure from the FA the players have reluctantly accepted a set of unofficial guidelines that will come into force for the friendly against Serbia and Montenegro in Leicester on June 3.
The guidelines forbid them making triumphant gestures towards the fans and running to the corner flags after scoring, and coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will be expected to admonish any player who does not adhere to them.
Privately, several of the players are appalled that Uefa’s disciplinary committee deemed their goal celebrations ”provocation” in deciding what punishment to mete out to the FA for the incursions after both goals against Turkey. However unfair they think the guidelines are, the players must adopt them.
They have had a meeting in which captain David Beckham set out the possible repercussions if there were to be a repeat of the scenes at the
Stadium of Light seven weeks ago.
One possible punishment is that England would have to play a game behind closed doors, something to which Uefa gave strong consideration before fining the FA £68 000 for the crowd trouble in Sunderland. However, Uefa is so appalled by the frequency with which England’s fans are involved in trouble that it has made it clear that a ban from next year’s European Championship in Portugal is a serious possibility.
”If it happens again, it has been well documented the team will probably be thrown out of the competition, so we have to be extra careful now,” said Beckham before Thursday’s game against South Africa in Durban.
”In the heat of the moment things happen, but hopefully we can help put a stop to it now.” —