A general view of a Liverpool corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
A general view of a Liverpool corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A Reds star has explained his celebration on international duty following significant social media backlash.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has clarified the reason behind his celebration against the Republic of Ireland in his latest World Cup qualifying appearance for Hungary. The 25-year-old found himself at the centre of a social media storm after footage and images of his mid-game celebration went viral.
Ireland shattered Hungarian hearts courtesy of an inspired Troy Parrott hat-trick, who turned the game completely on its head with goals in the 80th and 96th minute. The former Tottenham Hotspur ace secured Ireland’s chances in the World Cup play-offs, ditching Hungary’s hopes in the process and dumping them from the competition. Szoboszlai was left devastated and he’s since been the subject of online trolling.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebration vs Republic of Ireland
Szoboszlai was elated after teammate Barnabás Varga put the Hungarians 2-1 ahead in the 37th minute, before Parrott’s late heroics in the second half. The Hungary captain and Liverpool star celebrated by holding his thumb against his nose and wiggling his fingers, which many adjudged to be directed at the Irish support.
The gesture, commonly referred to as the ‘clown celebration’, was deemed disrespectful and taken as mocking the Irish supporters. Szoboszlai was criticised and then poked fun at after the tables were turned on Hungary, seeing Ireland into the play-offs instead.
Szoboszlai has been the subject of memes, criticism and even AI-generated images following the Hungary upset. A photo of the skipper making a crying gesture, similar to Cristiano Ronaldo’s poorly-timed stunt before being sent off against Ireland, has done the rounds but it has since been debunked as a fake image.
Dominik Szoboszlai clarifies celebration against Republic of Ireland
Footage from the Hungary vs Ireland match also shows Szoboszlai aim his real celebration towards teammates and staff members on the Hungary bench and touchline. He has backed this up in a recent interview.
The Liverpool star was present to view his extremely lifelike waxwork figure in a private unveiling at Madame Tussauds Budapest. During that time, Szoboszlai was asked about the heartbreaking result for Hungary and for context on the celebration that has divided many on social media.
“It's still hard to accept what happened, but unfortunately you have to live with it and move on,” the midfielder told reporter István Hajdú B (via Blikk). “There's definitely a reason why this always happens to us, but we try to take the positives out of even the most difficult times. We had a chance until the end, we believed we could make it to the playoffs.”
On the ‘clown’ celebration after Varga’s goal, Szoboszlai claimed: “This is a joke between myself and my own teammates, András Schäfer, Barnabás Varga and Péter Szappanos. If it was meant for the Irish, I would tell them.”
Szoboszlai must now put the tough week behind him and shift focus to his Liverpool return. The Reds are in action against Nottingham Forest this weekend, in desperate search of an important win. Szoboszlai has been crucial for Liverpool this season and Jamie Carragher already believes he is the standout player of the campaign. After signing for the Reds for £60 million in 2023, the club are now working on tying the Hungarian down with a new deal.
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