Why are football players booked for taking their shirts off?

Football players are booked for taking off their shirts because it goes against the rules of the game. According to the Laws of the Game established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), a player must not remove their shirt during play, including after scoring a goal, as it is considered unsportsmanlike behavior. The referee can issue a yellow or red card, depending on the severity of the offense.

The prohibition of removing shirts during play in football dates back to the Laws of the Game established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which have been in place for many decades. The specific rule, which states that a player must not remove their shirt during play, has been in place since at least the early 1990s and is still enforced today.