Taiwo Awoniyi Could Face FA Action After Religious Goal Celebration for Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi may be subject to disciplinary action by the English Football Association (FA) following his religious celebration during Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The 28-year-old Nigerian international came off the bench to score his second league goal of the season, sealing Forest’s emphatic win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In his celebration, Awoniyi removed his shirt, ran to the corner flag, and knelt in an act of worship. Beneath his kit, he wore an undershirt displaying the message: “God is the greatest.”

However, FA and FIFA regulations prohibit players from displaying political, religious, or personal statements during matches. According to the rules:

“Equipment must not have any political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer's logo. For any offense, the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organizer, national football association, or by FIFA.”