Former BBC presenter and renowned footballer, Gary Lineker, has recently voiced his criticism of a particular rule in the Premier League. This came to light after the recent match between Tottenham and Manchester United which ended in a 2-2 draw.
The game was marked by Matthijs de Ligt's last-minute equaliser that led to the draw. Bryan Mbeumo had scored early on before Mathys Tel and Richarlison turned the tide in favour of Tottenham. However, it was Richarlison's celebration that sparked controversy.
Richarlison celebrated his stoppage-time goal by removing his shirt, an act which earned him a yellow card according to current Premier League rules. This extended the match time allowing De Ligt to score an equaliser.
Lineker's criticism of shirt removal rule
Lineker described this rule as 'stupid' and suggested it needs revision. He pointed out that players should be allowed more freedom in expressing their celebrations without facing penalties such as yellow cards.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
"I think it's a stupid law to get a yellow card, and obviously, if it happens in injury time, you get extended injury time. But also, even though it's a silly law, you know what it is, and I just don't understand why.
"I know you can get overexcited, but you can get overexcited by doing something else other than rip your bloody shirt off. It's a bit daft, but I get it. It's a big goal for him, and he thought at the time he'd won the game."
In fact, due to this rule enforcement during stoppage time, Richarlison has now become the first player since 2006/07 season who got booked for taking off his shirt after scoring a 90th-minute goal only for his team to concede afterward more than once.
Call for revision
Lineker’s comments have ignited discussions among sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike about whether or not there should be changes made within these rules governing player behaviour on field. His argument centres around how such rules can inadvertently affect game outcomes due to extended play times resulting from penalty bookings like those experienced by Richarlison.
While some may argue that players are well aware of these rules and should abide by them, others like Lineker believe that the rule is outdated and needs to be revised. The debate continues as fans eagerly await the outcome of this controversy.
Gary Lineker's call for a revision in the Premier League rule regarding shirt removal during celebrations has sparked a significant discussion in the sports world. Whether or not changes will be made remains to be seen, but it's clear that this issue has brought attention to how certain rules can impact game outcomes in unexpected ways.
