Live Football and Publicity Infringements
A problematic aspect of sport on tv is the potential for players to use goal celebrations to make a political or other protest. Governing bodies have attempted to stamp down on this behaviour in the Premier League by enforcing an automatic yellow card for players who remove their shirts to reveal a message underneath. While this an often harmless message to friends or family, it can also be used to make a statement. Memorable examples include Robbie Fowler coming out in support of the striking Liverpool dock workers in the 1990s. Clubs and broadcasters are similarly wary about a player aggressively pushing their own sponsorship deals, with similar restrictions in place to limit over exposure of slogans or badges outside of a club kit and boots. In some cases an entire squad can circumvent rules by wearing specially designed training shirts prior to a match, as was the case with the Liverpool squad’s much criticised declaration of support for striker Luis Suarez while under allegation on racism charges in 2011.