Everton defend Tim Cahill's 'handcuff' celebration

Mar 3 2008

Everton have defended Tim Cahill after his controversial goal celebration during the 3-1 home win over Portsmouth.

Cahill scored the Everton's second goal and dedicated it to his brother Sean, who was jailed for six years in January for GBH.

The Australian midfielder crossed his wrists as if he had been handcuffed.

After criticism in some quarters, a club spokesman said: "Goal celebrations are a personal matter and up to the player to decide.

"No-one dictates what the player can do as long as he stays within the laws of the game and as long as it doesn't result in a caution.

"He is a very articulate young man and will have weighed up the pros and cons and decided to do it because it was a personal and emotional matter.

"I am sure Tim was fully aware that some people would not be in favour of what he did before he did it."

Cahill's  struggled for form since the turn of the year and his goal against Portsmouth was his first since the end of December.

The incident on 11 July 2004 in Bromley, Kent left the victim partially blinded and Cahill admitted that it has been an emotional time for him and his family, but he is always thinking of his brother.