FA To Investigate Kalou's Chelsea Celebrations

Chelsea forwards Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba could be in trouble, as the Football Association are set to launch an enquiry into their gestures whilst celebrating Chelsea goals against Middlesbrough yesterday evening.

Kalou scored both goals in the 2-0 Stamford Bridge victory over the Teessiders, and celebrated them alongside fellow Ivorian Drogba by making a crossed fist, 'handcuffs' type gesture, which was widely believed to be a reference to activist Antoine Assale Tiemoko, recently freed from a year-long jail term in the Ivory Coast.

A Chelsea spokesman was quick to refute such speculation though, claiming that the gesture was perfectly harmless.

"Salomon says there was nothing in it," The London Evening Standard reports the spokesman as saying.

"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."

The FA do not take kindly to gestures, political or otherwise, made by players celebrating goals. Players were banned from making any political statements on the pitch in 2002, and players such as Tim Cahill, who showed support for his jailed brother last year with a similar 'handcuff' gesture after scoring a goal, received fierce censure and criticism from various significant personalities, including the police officer investigating his brother's case.

Kalou was at pains to stress that his gesture was merely an innocent expression of joy.

"People are always going to think there is something in what you do, but it didn’t mean anything," he told Setanta Sports.

"I was just happy. I don’t even know the guy – it has nothing to do with football. It wasn’t for him, I don’t know him so I don’t know why I should celebrate for him?"

Despite the denials from club and player, the FA will still investigate the matter, and will examine the incident closely using television images.

"We are going to look at the relevant footage," an FA spokesman confirmed earlier.

Zack Wilson, Goal.com

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