Hmm... maybe this belongs in Hot Jock Talk. Being widely reported today; this version is fron the SF Chronicle:

"Keep your shirt on. So says FIFA in ordering soccer players not to indulge in any more stripteases after they score goals. Sepp Blatter, head of soccer's world governing body, said there was too much flesh on display at the recent Confederations Cup.

So yellow cards are in store for players who bare their chest -- or bra, as in the case of Brandi Chastain. She pulled off her shirt after scoring the winning goal for the U.S. team in the Women's World Cup final against China four years ago.

Christian Gimenez, a star scorer for FC Basel of the Swiss Premier League, was not happy about the ruling. In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, he got it off his chest: 'The goal celebrations are really special for a forward, an expression of joy and emotion. I'll just have to pull down my shorts in the future.'"

Christian Gimenez for King of the World!!! wink

I *think* I know the incident that prompted this. Diego Forlan plays for Manchester United. He'd been roundly booed by the fans because, well, he'd been crap for Man Yoo. But he scored a great goal for them in an important match against (I think) Chelsea and he ripped off his shirt and was waving it around his head as he went to the touchline to soak in the adulation of the crowd.

Problem was, his shirt had another shirt attached to it underneath, like a t-shirt underneath, to absorb sweat. He got tangled up trying to put it back on and he had to actually leave the match for a minute to get his shirt back on. It took 2 trainers to help him. Ridiculous.

And of course, there's the old "Wear t-shirt with message on it underneath team shirt" trick. It's all become really posed and stagey and not the usual orgasmic, spontaneous thing it used to be.

But, ban it? Nah, keep it!

[ July 06, 2003, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

Nope. I think you got it right. Unless you want to put it under "Politics and Religion".

I think this has been building up at least since the controversy about the displaying of non-sports related slogans during the 2002 Cup in Seoul. Didn't the Brazilians display religious slogans on or under their shirts, or switch to shirts that did after they won?

Also the women players showing their "sports bras" has annoyed the conservatives for years. Mia Hamm's sports bra doesn't do much for me, but it obviously upsets some of the old guard at FIFA. To treat everyone equally they have to ban shirt removal for all.

Truly a sad day for soccer IMO.

However I have to agree that I like Gimenez's suggestion that he may now have to drop his shorts after scoring a goal. There's hope for soccer after all. :cool: