Premier League stars could be punished for their CELEBRATIONS in new crackdown on players

Premier League players could be penalised for certain celebrations in a new crackdown planned by officials. Top flight stars have come under fire in recent weeks for performing celebrations that mock the opposition and rile up supporters, such as Jamie Vardy teasing Tottenham fans over their lack of Premier League titles last month. Officials started clamping down on this behaviour last week when Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye was booked after celebrating his winner at Brighton by imitating a seagull - flapping his arms in the air towards the home fans. Meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly risked the wrath of Erling Haaland after mimicking the striker's signature celebration after scoring for Arsenal in their 5-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday. He was not booked.

Discussing the possibility of a crackdown on celebrations, Premier League's chief football officer Tony Scholes said chiefs would weigh up a decision if they "crossed over into mockery or criticism". "There's a balance," he said, via Sky Sports. "I think we all like to see celebrations. Some of the celebrations have been very funny, entertaining, but there's a line. Once it crosses over into mockery or criticism then we would need to deal with it.".

Players have also been slammed for enraging opposition players with copycat celebrations after ex-Brighton star Neal Maupay mimicked James Maddison's darts-throwing celebration last year. It triggered a social media spat between the pair. Lewis-Skelly's own celebration against Manchester City came after Haaland blasted "Who the f*** are you?" at him in the reverse fixture, which ended 2-2. Jamie Carragher took issue with Lewis-Skelly's behaviour and praised team-mate Declan Rice for quickly pulling him onto his feet.

"I didn’t like this [the celebration] to be honest, because he’s a young player. You know, mimicking Haaland and taking the mick out of him," he told Sky. "But I think as a young player – and I know we all get carried away with ourselves as a young player – but I just think what Declan Rice did there. He pulled him up. He’s still celebrating in the corner. Listen, it’s a huge moment for him, but Declan Rice is telling him to get back in position.".

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