Why did Vincent Aboubakar get a yellow card for taking shirt off in celebration?

There were dramatic scenes in stoppage-time during Brazil’s final 2022 World Cup group game against Cameroon on Friday.

Vincent Aboubakar scored a goal in stoppage-time to earn Cameroon a famous victory against the five-time world champions, even though it was not enough to see them through to the knockout stage.

It was a moment to remember for the 30-year-old striker — but he was then sent off by the referee Ismail Elfath.

Aboubakar was booked earlier in the game for a tackle, and then received a second yellow card — and his marching orders — for taking his shirt off during jubilant celebrations.

Sergio Aguero was famously booked by Mike Dean after ripping off his shirt celebrating the iconic goal that won Manchester City the Premier League title in 2012, while England’s Chloe Kelly suffered the same fate as she celebrated England’s win at the most recent Women’s European Championship.

But why are players cautioned for taking off their shirt during football matches?

The Athletic looks into the rule.

Receiving a yellow card for taking your shirt off when celebrating has been around in football since 2004, when it was introduced under FIFA’s laws of the game in a bid to clamp down on time-wasting.

Law 12 of IFAB’s ‘Laws of the Game’ 2022-23, which covers “fouls and misconducts”, it states:

“While it is permissible for a player to demonstrate his joy when a goal has been scored, the celebration must not be excessive.

“Reasonable celebrations are allowed, but the practice of choreographed celebrations is not to be encouraged when it results in excessive time-wasting and referees are instructed to intervene in such cases.

“A player must be cautioned if:

Seeing as Aboubakar already had a yellow card, which he picked up in the 81st minute of the match, he got sent off for taking his shirt off.

Cameroon went off while Brazil advanced as group winners but the Indomitable Lions at least departed in style, their matchwinner’s red card unlikely to have taken too much of the shine of the result.

(Photo: Getty Images)