The Ayatollah (football celebration)
Encyclopedia
The Ayatollah is a football celebration used by fans of Welsh
football club Cardiff City
. Performing the action is always preceded by a chant of "do the Ayatollah".
, home of Lincoln City
, on September 15, 1990, the day after U Thant had played a gig at Cardiff's Chapter Arts Centre
.. U Thant's singer had been inspired by footage of attendants at the funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini, which was broadcast live on British TV, doing the movement to express their grief at his death.
It has been claimed that it was initially used as a sign of despair at the way the team were playing. It quickly became very popular with fans of the club, and has since been used in terms of celebration and support for the team. Away games at Hereford United
and Peterborough United
in 1992 helped cement its place in the fans' repertoire.
The start of the Ayatollah has often mistakenly been credited to former chairman Sam Hammam
. This is likely due to the national coverage of Hammam performing the celebration pitchside and in front of the visiting Leeds fans, drawing criticism from then-Leeds manager David O'Leary
, the Football Association, and a BBC undercover report, following the now infamous 2-1 victory over Leeds United
in the third round of the FA Cup
in 2002, which saw crowd trouble after final whistle.
at every match. They, in turn, sing for each stand at their former home ground Ninian Park
and current home ground Cardiff City Stadium to "Do the Ayatollah". During matches, players performing well in the game, or players who have just been brought on during the match, are called to "Do the Ayatollah". Other people in the ground are also often called on to perform the move, including the team's manager, away fans, former players on opposing sides (although managers of the teams have strongly discouraged it so it is rarely performed), and police officers on duty at the match.
Doing the Ayatollah has also become popular for famous Cardiff fans to do when celebrating. Ex-Wales rugby union team
captain Gareth Thomas
often performs the Ayatollah after scoring a try, swimmer David Davies
performed the Ayatollah on the podium while receiving his medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
and at the 2008 olympics, and cricketer Simon Jones
also used the celebration after taking the wicket of Simon Katich
during the 2005 Ashes series. Mark Webster
, winner of the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship
, also performed the Ayatollah after winning the title. The Ayatollah has also been used by ice hockey fans of the Cardiff Devils when winning the Play-off Championship in 1999. Big Brother housemate and Cardiff supporter David Vaughan frequently does the ayatollah after winning tasks within the house.
Former Cardiff players and footballers who are fans of Cardiff have often performed the Ayatollah at the home grounds of the Bluebirds' bitter rivals Swansea City
. Ipswich Town
midfielder Gavin Williams
, a lifelong Cardiff fan, performed it at Vetch Field
after scoring against them for his former club Yeovil Town
, and former Cardiff player Christian Roberts
performed the Ayatollah when he scored against them at the Liberty Stadium
after being verbally abused throughout the match for being a former Cardiff player. Nottingham Forest
winger Arron Davies
stated that he would love to become the first player to "do the Ayatollah" at Wembley Stadium
had he and his team at the time, Yeovil Town
, reached the Football League One
play-off final.
. A group of supporters released a song named "Do The Ayatollah!" and a different song under the same title was written by one of the club's players, Steve Thompson
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
football club Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. Performing the action is always preceded by a chant of "do the Ayatollah".
Action
Performing the Ayatollah is done by having both hands flat pointing towards each other, raised above your head, and repeatedly moving them up and down in a patting motion.Origins
The Ayatollah celebration came into use at Cardiff City games in 1990. It was originally performed by the singer and fans of a Welsh-language punk group called U Thant. It was first performed by Cardiff City fans at Sincil BankSincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
, home of Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, on September 15, 1990, the day after U Thant had played a gig at Cardiff's Chapter Arts Centre
Chapter Arts Centre
Chapter Arts Centre is an arts centre in Canton, Cardiff, Wales. It hosts films, plays, performance art and live music, and includes a free art gallery, café and bars. There are also over 60 work spaces, used for an eclectic range of purposes including Chapter's own training courses.Income for...
.. U Thant's singer had been inspired by footage of attendants at the funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini, which was broadcast live on British TV, doing the movement to express their grief at his death.
It has been claimed that it was initially used as a sign of despair at the way the team were playing. It quickly became very popular with fans of the club, and has since been used in terms of celebration and support for the team. Away games at Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in 1992 helped cement its place in the fans' repertoire.
The start of the Ayatollah has often mistakenly been credited to former chairman Sam Hammam
Sam Hammam
Samir "Sam" Hammam is a Lebanese business man, most notable for his high profile involvement in British football clubs.-Career:...
. This is likely due to the national coverage of Hammam performing the celebration pitchside and in front of the visiting Leeds fans, drawing criticism from then-Leeds manager David O'Leary
David O'Leary
David Anthony O'Leary is an Irish football manager and former player. His managerial career began at Leeds United and later he managed Aston Villa. He most recently worked as the manager of Al-Ahli Dubai...
, the Football Association, and a BBC undercover report, following the now infamous 2-1 victory over Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in the third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 2002, which saw crowd trouble after final whistle.
Supporters
The Ayatollah is now performed by the supporters of Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
at every match. They, in turn, sing for each stand at their former home ground Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
and current home ground Cardiff City Stadium to "Do the Ayatollah". During matches, players performing well in the game, or players who have just been brought on during the match, are called to "Do the Ayatollah". Other people in the ground are also often called on to perform the move, including the team's manager, away fans, former players on opposing sides (although managers of the teams have strongly discouraged it so it is rarely performed), and police officers on duty at the match.
Doing the Ayatollah has also become popular for famous Cardiff fans to do when celebrating. Ex-Wales rugby union team
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
captain Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas (rugby player)
Gareth Thomas , known as Alfie, is a retired Welsh professional rugby footballer who played rugby league for the Crusaders RL in the Super League. He also previously played rugby union for the Cardiff Blues and as a fullback, wing or centre.On 26 May 2007, Thomas surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the...
often performs the Ayatollah after scoring a try, swimmer David Davies
David Davies (swimmer)
David Davies is a Welsh Commonwealth Games and Olympic distance swimmer. Born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Davies swam for Wales at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and represented Great Britain at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics...
performed the Ayatollah on the podium while receiving his medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
and at the 2008 olympics, and cricketer Simon Jones
Simon Jones (cricketer)
Simon Philip Jones MBE is a Welsh cricketer, who played internationally for England. Formerly playing his county cricket for Glamorgan County Cricket Club and then Worcestershire before moving in September 2009 to Hampshire. He is currently on a month's loan with his first county, Glamorgan...
also used the celebration after taking the wicket of Simon Katich
Simon Katich
Simon Matthew Katich is an Australian cricketer. He is the captain of the New South Wales Blues, and also captained, up until the end of the 2007 season, Derbyshire County Cricket Club...
during the 2005 Ashes series. Mark Webster
Mark Webster (darts player)
Mark Webster is a left-handed Welsh darts player who lives in Denbigh. Known as Webby, he plays in Professional Darts Corporation events, having previously won the 2008 BDO World Championship. Mark became a full time professional in 2009, having previously been a fully qualified Gas registered...
, winner of the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship
2008 BDO World Darts Championship
*Michael Rosenauer was originally drawn to face Mark Webster, but chose to withdraw from the event to compete in the 2008 PDC World Championship. Jones had won the standby play-off at Bridlington prior to the World Masters-Statistics:- Women's Championship :...
, also performed the Ayatollah after winning the title. The Ayatollah has also been used by ice hockey fans of the Cardiff Devils when winning the Play-off Championship in 1999. Big Brother housemate and Cardiff supporter David Vaughan frequently does the ayatollah after winning tasks within the house.
Former Cardiff players and footballers who are fans of Cardiff have often performed the Ayatollah at the home grounds of the Bluebirds' bitter rivals Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
midfielder Gavin Williams
Gavin Williams
Gavin John Williams is a Welsh international professional footballer who is currently plays for League One side Yeovil Town.Williams' younger brother Lewis is a winger with Pontypridd RFC.-Hereford United:...
, a lifelong Cardiff fan, performed it at Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
after scoring against them for his former club Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, and former Cardiff player Christian Roberts
Christian Roberts
Christian Roberts is a Welsh midfielder who currently plays for Haverfordwest County after retiring from professional football in September 2008, finishing his career with Swindon Town....
performed the Ayatollah when he scored against them at the Liberty Stadium
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
after being verbally abused throughout the match for being a former Cardiff player. Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
winger Arron Davies
Arron Davies
Arron Rhys Davies is a Welsh international footballer who currently plays for Northampton Town.-Southampton:Davies was brought up in Llantwit Major, where he attended Llantwit Major Comprehensive School....
stated that he would love to become the first player to "do the Ayatollah" at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
had he and his team at the time, Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, reached the Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
play-off final.
In song
The Ayatollah was the focus of two songs written in support of the club prior to them playing in the 2008 FA Cup Final2008 FA Cup Final
The 2008 FA Cup Final was a football match held at Wembley Stadium on 17 May 2008 and was the final match of the 2007–08 FA Cup competition. The match was the 127th FA Cup Final, and the second to be held at the new Wembley Stadium since its redevelopment. The match was contested by Portsmouth and...
. A group of supporters released a song named "Do The Ayatollah!" and a different song under the same title was written by one of the club's players, Steve Thompson
Steven Thompson (Scottish footballer)
Steven Howard Thompson is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for St. Mirren.-Dundee United:...
.