Welbeck Booked After Shirt-Off Celebration and Surreal Referee Interaction in Brighton’s 3–1 Win Over Chelsea

Danny Welbeck was shown a yellow card for his goal celebration during Brighton & Hove Albion’s 3–1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on September 27, 2025. After scoring his second goal in stoppage time, Welbeck pulled off his shirt in celebration—a move that automatically warrants a booking under FIFA regulations. Moments later, in a burst of exuberance, he placed both hands on the head of referee Simon Hooper, who responded by issuing the yellow card while holding his whistle in the other hand.

Welbeck, wearing yellow shorts and a black GPS tracker vest, stood close to Hooper as the stadium crowd looked on. The interaction, though seemingly playful, added to the drama of the moment. Brighton later posted the clip on their official Twitter account, sparking a wave of reactions from fans. 

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Chelsea took the lead in the first half through a header from Enzo Fernández. However, the game turned in the 53rd minute when Trevoh Chalobah was sent off following a VAR review for a foul on Diego Gómez. Brighton seized the momentum in the second half, with Danny Welbeck equalizing in the 76th minute with a powerful header.

Maxim De Cuyper then gave Brighton the lead with another header, before Welbeck sealed the win with his second goal in stoppage time. The result marked a significant victory for Brighton, who stunned Stamford Bridge with three second-half goals and capitalized on Chelsea’s numerical disadvantage.

The incident involving Welbeck and referee Simon Hooper added a surreal twist to an already eventful match, leaving fans with plenty to talk about both on and off the pitch.