FABRIZIO Ravanelli has a lot to answer for.

The Italian is widely considered to be the first massive earner in the Premiership, having arrived at Middlesbrough on a reported £42,000 a week in 1996.

And he was also the guy who started the shirt-over-the-head celebration which has caused so much controversy following Everton midfielder Tim Cahill's sending off at Manchester City last Saturday. No blame should be attached to referee Steve Bennett for issueing Cahill with his second yellow card.

The players have been told that removing their shirt, pulling it over their heads or around the back of their necks would, from this season, result in a caution.

What is crazy is that it is fine for players to kiss each other, which is offensive to many, but not to pull a shirt over the head, which offends no one.