Big Question: FIFA Giving The Old F-U To F-U-N?

For the second time in two weeks, a Serie A player scored a decisive goal in a game, took his short off to celebrate and was immediately handed his marching orders for a second yellow card. Siena’s Massimo Maccarone scored a sublime free kick in the 80th minute against Tuscan rival Fiorentina and was so pleased with his accomplishment that he took his shirt off to celebrate. Hell, the goal was so fantastic I almost took my shirt off to celebrate. But was a second yellow card necessary for something which wasn’t even close to being “ungentlemanly”? Surely it was at least a touch more “gentlemanly” than Sepp suggesting females wear short shorts and show off their breasts a little more, yes? Sure, if you want to take the word “gentlemanly” at its roots, then no, it wasn’t. The celebration was child-like. Like a child who had just scored and incredibly meaningful goal against a local rival in a season which had seen few ups and far too many downs. A child who had just practically given his team the lifeline with which to stave off relegation and fight another year against the big boys of calcio. Like a child who achieved something the referee and board members could never truly understand the firsthand joy of, and factor in the sheer euphoria and loss of judgment after something so uplifting. Like a child who is being allowed to play a game he loves so much for as long as his body can hold up and displaying that joy. Pablo Osvaldo was guilty of the same infraction last weekend against Juventus, and was sent off after scoring a goal which catapulted Fiorentina to victory in the 94th minute. Shirt off, red card. That meant he missed this decisive game, and a chance to help further cement Fiorentina’s 4th place status this weekend; and of course, assist in grabbing the priceless Champions League spot next year. Milan made up the points, and is now just 4 points behind Fiorentina. Osvaldo’s presence may have helped, may not. But is taking one’s shirt off really something worth not knowing over? In the end, Siena won 1-0, and Maccarone’s red card didn’t matter - but it might next week. Do we really need the shirt on, shirt off debate deciding our seasons? Isn’t footballing difficult enough as it is? And isn’t Sepp Blatter, a man of infinitely stupid decisions , as worthy of a red card offense for “ungentlemanly conduct” as anyone? Sepp has caused enough havoc within the game, maybe he should just let the boys take their shirts off. This is a child’s game, after all. (Stepping down off the soapbox now….) Now that you can maybe kinda sorta see my take on things if you dig deep enough, what’s yours? Should shirtless celebrations be cardable? [Originally posted on The Offside ]