Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi could face disciplinary action following his goal celebration during Premier League action on Sunday, despite helping Nottingham Forest to a commanding 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Naija News reports that Taiwo Awoniyi rounded off an assured away display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a late finish, converting from close range after meeting a delivery from Neco Williams. The goal marked his second in the league this season, adding to his earlier strike against Brentford in January.
The result strengthened Forest’s push up the table and piled further pressure on Spurs, who struggled to contain the visitors throughout.
But the spotlight has shifted from the scoreline to Awoniyi’s celebration. After finding the net, he lifted his shirt to reveal a religious message reading “God is the greatest”.
He had already been booked during the match and now faces the possibility of further sanctions under rules governing player conduct.
Under Law 4 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), players are barred from displaying political, religious or personal messages.
“Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer’s logo,” the regulation stated.
“For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA.”
The incident has drawn comparisons with a previous case involving Marc Guehi, who was cautioned by the Football Association after displaying religious messages on a rainbow armband during a campaign linked to LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall last season.
At the time, UK politician Neil O’Brien questioned the FA’s consistency in handling such matters.
“People criticised Sam Morsy for not wearing a rainbow armband on the weekend. The club said he was a Muslim, that was the end of it. FA ‘declined to comment’. What a total two-tier mess,” he said.
Guehi, meanwhile, defended his stance.
“The message was just a message of truth and love and inclusivity to be honest,” he said.
“I don’t think the message was harmful in any way, that’s all I can really say about that, to be honest.
“I believe 100% in the words that I wrote, even what I’ve just said now, it’s a message of truth and love, and I hope people can understand that my faith is my faith, and I’ll stand by it for the rest of my life.”
NaijaNews/ Samuel Olokoba
