Soccer-Show players yellow cards for hugging, suggests UK politician

Players who flout COVID-19 health and safety protocols by shaking hands or hugging after goals are scored should be shown a yellow card, the head of a parliamentary committee suggested on Thursday. Julian Knight, the chair of the cross-party Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee, told Reuters exuberant goal celebrations were sending the wrong message at a time of national emergency.

Players who flout COVID-19 health and safety protocols by shaking hands or hugging after goals are scored should be shown a yellow card, the head of a parliamentary committee suggested on Thursday.

Julian Knight, the chair of the cross-party Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee, told Reuters exuberant goal celebrations were sending the wrong message at a time of national emergency. "In the same way as referees issue yellow cards for players taking off their shirts, they could do the same thing with this," he said.

"Surely its unsportsmanlike to risk someone getting COVID, isn’t it?" Under world body FIFA's rules, a player who removes his jersey after scoring a goal should be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

Premier League guidelines for on-field behaviour state that "unnecessary contact, particularly between opposition teams, must be avoided. This includes handshakes, high-fives and hugging". Media reports have highlighted celebrations at recent matches, with Manchester City in the spotlight after eight players held a group hug when Phil Foden scored in Wednesday's 1-0 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Video also emerged of teams celebrating in dressing rooms following FA Cup third round matches. The Daily Telegraph quoted DCMS committee member Clive Efford as saying such celebrations were an "insult to the staff in the NHS (national health service)".

England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) has also called on soccer players to behave responsibly and stop celebrating in close proximity to each other. City manager Pep Guardiola said it was "weird and uncomfortable" if a player scored and nobody celebrated with him.

"We are tested maybe five or six times in the last 10 days. Everyone is negative. We are outdoors where the virus is less aggressive. We will follow what the Premier League says but I don't know if we will be able to do it," he added. Knight pointed to sports like cricket and the NFL where they kept a distance.

"I understand what is said but maybe one has to exercise some extra level of self-control. Everyone else is, in society right now."

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