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Cavani 'gun' celebration shot down by referee

Edinson Cavani poses in his trademark 'sniper' stance after scoring for Paris Saint-Germain © Getty Images

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The footballing world is full of wacky goal celebrations - just think of Robbie Keane's cartwheels, Peter Crouch's robot, and Facundo Sava's mask.

None of those outbursts were likely to end in a booking, so long as the jubilant goalscorer remembered to keep his shirt on.

But Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani has been left red-faced after pulling his trademark 'finger-gun' pose while celebrating his side's final goal in Friday's victory over Ligue 1 strugglers Lens.

Edinson Cavani reacts to being shown a red card © Getty Images

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The Uruguayan had just converted a penalty to make it 3-1 to PSG and promptly dropped to one knee, using an imaginary rifle to take aim at the Stade de France cowd.

Referee Nicolas Rainville took exception to the soldier-like stance and issued Cavani with a yellow card. In turn, the striker took exception to the booking and remonstrated with Rainville, grabbing his arm in the process.

Clearly in no mood for a fight with the sharpshooting Cavani, Rainville then showed the striker a straight red to give him marching orders of a footballing variety.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi criticised the decision, insisting that punishments given for outlandish celebrations are bad for French football.

"It is the media's job to speak about the referee," he told Canal+. "Cavani does not deserve that red card. And why has he got a yellow before? He always does the same celebration.

"This is not normal and it is not good for French football if we want to develop. It is a bad situation for everyone."

Cavani was one of three players sent off in the heated clash in Paris, with Lens duo Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Jerome Le Moigne also shown red cards. The result moved PSG up to second in Ligue 1, leaving Lens down in 18th.

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