Blanc blasts trend over goal celebrations

24 October 2014, 21:2

Paris - Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc hit out at football authorities on Friday and defended striker Edinson Cavani ahead of this weekend's clash with Bordeaux.

Cavani will be suspended for the game after being sent-off in last week's 3-1 win over Lens, in which he was booked for his goal celebration before receiving a second yellow card almost immediately after grabbing the referee's arm in protest.

Cavani performed his regular hunter's goal celebration, mimicking the firing of a gun, for which he was booked.

"What's worrying is that soon you won't be able to celebrate at all after scoring," said Blanc.

"You can't step off the pitch, take off your shirt, pass on a message. Soon when you score a goal you'll saying nothing and just go back to your own half.

"When you score in a big match you do inexplicable things, so I find it absurd to give a yellow card to a striker after he's scored."

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Cavani performed his celebration as usual on Tuesday when scoring in the Champions League match against Apoel Nicosia, but this time he aimed his celebratory "shot" deliberately at the ground.

"Maybe the moles will complain and a mole commission will give Edi a card," joked Blanc.

Cavani's absence will cause a problem as star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still out with a heel problem, and Blanc admits he is no closer to knowing when the big Swede will return.

"I can't give a precise date for his return. He's in pain, he's training more than those who are available but it's a specific programme," added Blanc.

"He can't train with the squad or go out and run around

"I can't play the 'name the date' game with you (journalists), I can't give you one. But I can't wait for his return.

"His heel hurts. He has a persistent pain and as long as the pain is there, he can't start (full) training again."

On the bright side, though, Blanc revealed that Argentine Ezequiel Lavezzi is fit to play following a hamstring problem, although the coach said he wouldn't last a full game.