Ekitike red card eclipses late Liverpool winner as retrospective looks at infamous celebrations
Late winner against Southampton was followed by a second yellow for removing his shirt; a Daily Mail Sport rundown recalls five other celebrations gone wrong
Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute as his side edged Southampton 2-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup third round, but his celebrations were overshadowed by a reckless second yellow card for removing his shirt after the goal. The incident left him facing a ban, with a Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on the horizon, and Ekitike later apologized for what he called a stupid moment on social media. The goal was set up by Federico Chiesa, whose clever work helped create the opportunity before Ekitike found the net and celebrated in front of the home crowd.
The moment of triumph quickly gave way to discipline concerns, and Liverpool’s match report noted the caution that comes with elite-level celebrations. Ekitike had already been booked earlier in the game, meaning the shirt-off celebration constituted a second yellow and a sending-off that will keep him out of at least the upcoming league fixture. The incident has prompted broader reflection on celebrations in football, with Daily Mail Sport recounting five other notable missteps in the moments after a goal.
The first entry on the list recalls Steve Morrow’s painful moment after Arsenal’s 1993 League Cup final win over Sheffield Wednesday. Morrow scored the decisive goal in a dramatic comeback, and as teammates carried him on the pitch, Tony Adams hoisted the midfielder into the air. In a cruel twist, Adams accidentally dropped Morrow as they celebrated, resulting in a badly broken arm that kept him out of action. Morrow later described the moment as unforgettable for the wrong reasons, though he also noted that the day’s triumph remains meaningful in his memory. The incident underscored the potential physical risks that can accompany on-pitch celebrations and the awkwardness that can arise when moments of jubilation spill into the surrounding space.
Lomano LuaLua’s celebration for Portsmouth against Arsenal in 2006 is another infamous example. LuaLua scored a headed equalizer and then performed a triple somersault, but an awkward landing left him with a damaged ankle. He signaled for a substitution shortly after, acknowledging that the celebration had contributed to the problem. Portsmouth’s manager at the time, Harry Redknapp, remarked that LuaLua’s flair was on full display, even as the injury altered the course of the game and the club’s season. LuaLua had pledged the celebration only if Portsmouth avoided relegation, and while the club ultimately stayed up on goal difference, the moment remains a cautionary tale about risk-taking in pursuit of theatrical celebrations.
Ian Harte’s knee-slide after a Leeds United free kick is another widely cited moment. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Leeds were contending for European football and domestic success, and Harte’s celebratory knee-slide after a stunning free kick against Deportivo La Coruna in the 2001 Champions League quarter-final appeared to go smoothly until he tripped over the corner flag, causing a stumble that interrupted his own moment of glory. The incident has endured as a humorous, if somewhat painful, reminder that even celebrations can betray a player at the worst possible moment.
Paulo Diogo’s 2006 incident for Servette stands out for its severity. After delivering a late assist, Diogo jumped on the barrier separating fans from the pitch to celebrate, only for his wedding ring to catch on the metal railing. The result was the loss of a finger, an injury that could not be ignored in the aftermath. Diogo was booked for time wasting, and doctors advised amputation of the remaining part of his finger joint after the attempt to reattach it failed. The episode remains one of football’s stark reminders of how even joyous moments can carry lasting consequences for players.
Joel, a 2014 moment from Coritiba in Brazil, adds a different dimension to the list. Standing 20 years old and just moments from securing a late winner against Sao Paulo, Joel leaped over advertising boards to celebrate with supporters behind the goal. The jump carried him into a stairwell covered by flags, and he slipped into a hole in the pitch. Rescue teams quickly attended to him, and Joel re-emerged with a stunned expression, eventually finishing the match. The episode illustrates how stadium design and crowd dynamics can intersect with celebrations in ways that are unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Taken together, the tales emphasize that extravagant celebrations—while part of the theater of sport—carry real risks for players, staff, and spectators. Ekitike’s red card adds a contemporary chapter to a long list of incidents that have shaped how clubs and players approach post-goal rituals. The player has apologized for the lapse and will serve a suspension that will keep him out of Liverpool’s league clash with Crystal Palace. As football continues to celebrate moments of individual brilliance, the sport also remains mindful of the boundaries between celebration and discipline, and of the continuing need for players to balance passion with prudence.