Blues stars face FA rap over goal celebrations

Crossing the line: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou celebrate Chelsea's goal
Simon Johnson13 April 2012

Chelsea's Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba are both facing a Football Association investigation after an ill-judged goal celebration at Stamford Bridge last night, writes Simon Johnson.

Kalou struck twice, in the 58th and 81st minutes, to lift Chelsea into second place in the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

The striker ran to the crowd after both efforts and crossed his wrists as if wearing handcuffs and was joined by Ivory Coast team-mate Drogba.

Chelsea were quick to deny there was any political motivation behind Kalou's actions and insisted he wasn't showing support for the recently freed Ivory Coast activist Antoine Assale Tiemoko.

He was released from a one-year prison sentence last month after being convicted of 'libelling the prosecutor's office' and being in 'contempt of court'. Tiemoko was arrested in December 2007 after the country's daily paper, Le Nouveau Reveil, had published his opinion piece on judicial corruption.

But a spokesperson for Chelsea said: "Salomon says there was nothing in it. He was just trying out a new celebration and it was a crossing of the arms. He also sometimes puts his hand over his face like a mask."

Ipswich's David Norris was fined £5,000 by the FA last year for making the same gesture in support of former Plymouth team-mate Luke McCormick, who was jailed for seven years and four months after causing the death by dangerous driving of two young brothers.

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill also caused outrage last March with his 'handcuff' celebration following his goal against Portsmouth, dedicated to his jailed older brother, Sean, who received a six-year sentence for kicking a man during a fight.

At the time, the Metropolitan Police officer who investigated the attack described the player's gesture as "grossly irresponsible".

FIFA may also want to know what was behind Kalou and Drogba's celebrations. They banned players from making any political statements or protests on the pitch in July 2002 after Liverpool stars had worn t-shirts showing support for striking dockers.

Kalou's goals have, though, propelled Chelsea to second in the league table and they travel to face third-placed Liverpool on Sunday. He said: "The Premier League is strong and you can never say it's over. Every team is going to have bad moments. We have had our bad moment, Liverpool are having their's now, maybe it will be Manchester United's turn soon.

"We have to be focused, try to win our games and hope the others have their bad moments.

"Liverpool came to Stamford Bridge and ended our record — we have the possibility on Sunday to go there and put the record straight. We know we can do that — I believe in the team.

"People are always saying we don't do well against the big four, but this is the occasion to put things right and get a good result."

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