The story behind Nicolas Jackson’s thumbs-down celebration that fans can’t stop talking about
Over the past few weeks, Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson has caught a lot of attention with his unique ‘thumbs-down’ celebration. But what does it really mean?
Last month, after Jackson scored in Villa’s 3-2 win over Tottenham, the Premier League’s official TikTok account linked his celebration to the 2000 movie Gladiator. They even showed a clip of the Emperor Commodus making the same thumbs-down gesture.
If you haven’t seen it, Jackson’s celebration starts with him putting a finger to his ear, then he sticks out his thumb and points it down. After that, he makes a throat-slitting motion and stares fiercely at the camera.
In Gladiator, the thumbs-down means the emperor wants the defeated gladiator to be killed instead of spared. Many people think Jackson’s thumbs-down means he’s saying he’s beaten his opponent and shows no mercy by scoring goals — and he’s done that eight times this season.
An article from The Independent on October 30 says the movie is indeed the inspiration for Jackson’s celebration.
While the Premier League is fine with his celebration, some wondered if UEFA might react after he used it in a Champions League game against Fenerbahce.
Back in September, Monaco’s Paris Brunner was banned for four games (two suspended) because of a throat-slit gesture after scoring. Brunner explained that emotions got the best of him after insults from fans and said he didn’t mean to be disrespectful. He said, “I wouldn’t say I regret it, but that wasn’t the message I wanted to send.”
The French disciplinary commission banned him, and the referee had noted the incident in his report. But there are important differences between Brunner’s and Jackson’s celebrations.
Brunner directed his gesture at the home fans, while Jackson pointed at the camera, not the stands. According to the IFAB Laws of the Game, which UEFA follows, players can’t celebrate in a way that’s “provocative, derisory, or inflammatory.”
Since Jackson’s celebration isn’t aimed at anyone in the crowd, it looks like UEFA won’t punish him for it.