We all have seen beautiful, funny and at times crazy enactments on how various players have displayed their emotions after they scored a goal. The most famous being that of the legendary Cameroonian – Roger Milla.
I am pretty sure you remember that, in World Cup 1990, he runs to the corner post and starts dancing. That was an exemplary display of his emotion after scoring in a world cup game.
From there on, we have seen various celebrations such as Bebeto’s imaginary baby celebration to Paulo Di Canio’s facist salutes to Adebayor’s cross pitch run towards Arsenal’s fans.
All fun, may be innocent, may be a spur of moment where uncontrollable emotions are involved. But how far are players allowed to go?
Now, I am all for unleashing emotions as long as they are in dominion lines. After all, only the players know best what they go through once they score. But I can say that a recent display from Marco Fabian (Chivas), in a Mexican league match against Estudiantes Tecos, definitely crossed the lines. He, in essence, celebrated a goal by pretending to shoot a fellow teammate in the head. Well, the detailed version; he stopped before teammate Alberto Medina, pointed his finger and imitated the cocking of a pistol, and then “fired” at Medina, who played along by falling back onto the turf as if executed by a gunshot to the head.
Now, some might not find anything wrong with it, but to those who follow the unfortunate daily reality of Mexico’s raging drug war, in which vicious executions occur daily in many parts of the country, it’s a brutal reminder of that reality, and to some extent a slap on the face of people who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones. Pretty sure a lot of people would be disappointed if a Muslim player goes to the fans and mimics pulling a switch on a suicide vest and the rest of his team mates fall to the ground. What sort of shit would that be?
Agreed that he had realized the outcome of his actions since then, but it does not take away from the fact that it was very offensive.
These players should be accountable for their actions, as we know; children and youth consider footballers as role models all over the world.
I would not imply that Marco is an awful person, or that he meant any spite in a celebration that looked like it had no intentions, from his end at least. But as the country tries so hard to rise above the drug war tearing its cities apart, his waywardness can only be illustrated as a classic piece of poor judgment.
Is this football’s most obnoxious celebration? Judge for yourself. Check out the video here.
