---
title: "Celtic: Fans rage at Charlie Nicholas over criticism of Leigh Griffiths’ goal celebration"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-fans-rage-at-charlie-nicholas-over-criticism-of-leigh-griffiths-goal-celebration/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2020-01-23T07:20:35Z"
modified: "2020-01-23T07:20:35Z"
---

# Celtic: Fans rage at Charlie Nicholas over criticism of Leigh Griffiths’ goal celebration

**A number of Celtic fans have reacted angrily to a newspaper column from ex-Hoops striker Charlie Nicholas in which he called out Leigh Griffiths.**

Writing in the print edition of the [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football) \[[via Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/charlie-nicholas-slaughters-celtics-leigh-21323995)\], Nicholas blasted the 29-year-old for celebrating his goal against Partick Thistle on Saturday by [putting his fingers to his ears](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leigh-griffiths-fires-celtic-message-21309895), saying: “His celebration really worried me and saddened me. I just think he should sort himself out and enjoy his goal.”

The 29-year-old’s goal celebration echoed a GIF that he tweeted ([via @Leighgriff09](https://twitter.com/Leighgriff09/status/1217145892911964160)) on January 14th, the same day that Celtic [signed another centre-forward in Patryk Klimala](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5163857/celtic-transfer-news-patryk-klimala-complete/).

This is not the first time that Nicholas has taken aim at a Celtic player over goal celebrations – last year, he wrote in the [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/) \[[via HITC](https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/09/24/charlie-nicholas-says-celtics-odsonne-edouard-better-than-ranger/)\] that Odsonne Edouard looked “too casual and uninterested” in acknowledging his goals.

Griffiths, who [ended a five-month goal drought](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leigh-griffiths/leistungsdaten/spieler/45611) in last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie and has[struggled to get into Neil Lennon’s first XI this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leigh-griffiths/leistungsdaten/spieler/45611), said after the match that the celebration was a response to pundits who questioned his future at the club (as per [The Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5185957/celtic-news-leigh-griffiths-defiant-message-future/)), with [Barry Ferguson](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5167712/celtic-rangers-barry-ferguson-leigh-griffiths-loan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1578989997) and [Alan Hutton](https://www.footballinsider247.com/writing-is-on-the-wall-exclusive-hutton-suggests-senior-celtic-player-is-on-borrowed-time/) among those advising him to leave Parkhead.

These Celtic fans on Twitter did not take kindly to the pundit’s criticism of the 29-year-old Hoops striker:

> A guy who always seems to be interviewed at throwing out time… getting near Garth Crooks levels of muppetry.
>
> — 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro\_Celtic) [January 21, 2020](https://twitter.com/Gastro_Celtic/status/1219553146441256960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Charlie nicholas is a nobody, couldn’t wait to get away down to England. Nobody at Celtic rates him or thinks he’s relevant. Best ignored
>
> — Brian (@bon1967) [January 21, 2020](https://twitter.com/bon1967/status/1219662034159198210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Nicholas has saddened us for years now hes an absolute baton
>
> — kate dunbar (@katedunbar61) [January 21, 2020](https://twitter.com/katedunbar61/status/1219661080605220869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> No one cares Charlie. Time to change the tune 😴😴
>
> — Veronica McLaughlin (Gormley) (@VeronicaMcLaug1) [January 21, 2020](https://twitter.com/VeronicaMcLaug1/status/1219530774199918592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Anything and everything negative about Celtic! Pathetic!
>
> — Mind lost. Again.- Bob Nicol (@Rn1967Nicol) [January 21, 2020](https://twitter.com/Rn1967Nicol/status/1219679902812819456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> first it was Odsonne Edouard doesn’t celebrate enough when he scores.. now this..🙄
>
> — Hez (@Hez\_cfc67) [January 21, 2020](https://twitter.com/Hez_cfc67/status/1219532744427999233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Was Nicholas out of line to condemn Griffiths’ goal celebration last Saturday? Comment below with your views!***