Leicester made an effort to stick to the Premier League’s new Covid-19 protocols by celebrating their goal in a socially distant way on Saturday night.
Midfielder James Maddison scored a fine goal against Southampton in the first half and ushered his team-mates away to perform a socially distant celebration.
After reminding his pals to stay away, he celebrated by himself before miming handshakes with his Foxes team-mates.
What a finish from James Maddison
He smashes it into the roof of the net to put Leicester in the lead and follows it up with some socially distant celebrations! pic.twitter.com/7QCQ42RvWB
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 16, 2021
Leicester made effort to stick to Covid-19 protocols by celebrating goal in socially distant way
James Maddison ushered his team-mates away to perform a socially distant celebration
He celebrated by himself before imitating handshakes with his Foxes team-mates
Foxes players kept their distance and limited their contact following the opener in their 2-0 victory, although Maddison and Harvey Barnes did exchange a brief high-five.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said prior to the clash: ‘If players make mistakes celebrating a goal, it is an honest mistake. It is instinct, and an instinct for as long as they have ever known.
‘But if it means not being able to celebrate a goal then it is something we have to look at and if it helps then we will do it for sure.’
Earlier on Saturday West Brom, Wolves, Brighton and Chelsea players ignored Premier League Covid protocols over celebrations by hugging each other after scoring.
Players have been told to avoid hugging, high-fives and handshakes before, during and after matches due to the rising cases of coronavirus, with sanctions promised for breaches.
There was hugging after each of the five goals in the Black Country derby while Brighton players also embraced Neal Maupay when the striker netted at Leeds.
West Brom and Wolves players ignored Premier League Covid protocols by celebrating their goals by hugging each other
Wolves players hugged Fabio Silva after the striker scored his first ever goal for the club
Brighton players hugged Neal Maupay after he put his side ahead against Leeds United
Mason Mount was embraced by Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi after scoring the only goal of the game in Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Fulham
West Brom players also celebrated by embracing each other at the final whistle as they held on to claim a crucial 3-2 victory.
There were similar scenes as Mason Mount scored the only goal of the game in Chelsea’s victory over Fulham.
The midfielder was hugged by Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham after his impressive strike.
Willy Boly’s goal was also caused a mass team celebration as he put his side 2-1 ahead
Matheus Pereira gave West Brom the lead with a penalty in the eighth minute. He was embraced by Robert Snodgrass, who was then hugged by Callum Robinson – who had won the spot-kick.
Wolves equalised in the 38th minute through Fabio Silva with his team-mates also celebrating by hugging the young striker.
Willy Boly then put the hosts ahead five minutes later which led to another mass team celebration.
Semi Ajayi drew the visitors level and he was also embraced by his West Brom team-mates
Just after half-time, Semi Ajayi drew the visitors level with a header and he too was embraced by his team-mates. Pereira then added another penalty and was again hugged by Robinson.
Before kick-off, Wolves players also took part in a team huddle.
Earlier in the week, Sam Allardyce said he couldn’t promise his players wouldn’t hug each other if they scored.
He said: ‘Certainly jumping on each other and hugging each other is out of the question now. I’m not sure why we’re in a bubble here and we get tested twice a week that it makes a difference.
‘But if that’s what the protocols are we’ll try our best to adhere to it. But I can’t promise that anyone won’t get carried away if they score a goal.’
There was also mass hugging at the full-time whistle as West Brom held on to win 3-2
Clubs have been warned that they face strict sanctions if they fail to follow the rules
Brighton players also broke Covid protocols by hugging striker Neal Maupay after his goal against Leeds United.
Before his side’s game at Craven Cottage, Frank Lampard had said that players are acting on instinct, rather than consciously flouting the protocols and that he believes trying to police emotion by punishing players will be difficult.
He said: ‘Football has and always will be a game of instinct and if we want to take the instinct out of the game, I think it’s not that simple. Players are good lads, they don’t want to do the wrong thing – they’re being asked to do their job through this very tough time and they’re doing it.
‘That’s the way it is and I understand that, but when they’re on the pitch and they score a goal, we’ll try and adapt slightly – as well as we can.
West Ham’s Michail Antonio had a unique, socially distanced celebration for his goal against Burnley
However, his West Ham team-mates then put their arms round the forward as he got to his feet
‘Ideally, in a perfect world, we’ll all walk back to the halfway line and start again but with football, maybe it won’t quite be the case and I don’t think you can hold players hugely to account unless there is a clear flouting of those rules but that’s certainly not an easy line to draw in game, in football.’
Michail Antonio had a unique, socially distanced celebration for his goal against Burnley. However, his West Ham team-mates then put their arms round the forward as he got to his feet.
The striker laid on the pitch and mimed a backstroke swimming action.
The Premier League held a series of calls with captains, managers and key staff earlier this week after several players ignored warnings over hugging during mid-week games.
Victories for Sheffield United, Manchester City, Manchester United and Everton saw players celebrate with each other. Fulham players also hugged after equalising at Tottenham.