Chris Beech insists normal goal celebrations by players should not be “stamped on” as football comes under increasing scrutiny over Covid-19.

Football’s authorities, along with politicians, are calling on players to stop hugging and crowding together after goals are scored.

Teams have been reminded to observe Covid protocols both in letter and spirit.

Carlisle United boss Beech, though, says there are more obvious areas in the game which deserve sanction rather than celebrations involving players who have already tested negative for the virus.

The Blues head coach - who has seen United's next three games suspended because of positive Covid-19 tests in the squad - said individuals who blatantly breach rules, such as players who have held house parties, should be under a harsher spotlight.

Beech said: “If you are passing protocol, you are passing test, and you are scoring a last-minute winner, I think you should be in a position to act what we would consider normal, and celebrate.

“I think what they were more suggestive of was the changing room activity, the singing, the interlocking, the celebration…look at Chorley singing Adele [after their FA Cup win over Derby].

“I think it was more possibly that, and it doesn’t do anybody any good if any high-profile players have house parties and do things they shouldn’t, because it just brings the game into disrepute when you’ve got people on the front line of the NHS caring and putting their own lives at risk.

“All they see or the public then see is a well-paid footballer who looked like he doesn’t care – and he probably does, he’s just getting it wrong. It shouldn’t be condoned.

"I think things like that should be heavily stamped on, not necessarily JJ [Kayode] scoring a last minute equaliser at Mansfield and celebrating by his mates jumping on his back who have all tested negative for the coronavirus prior to the game.”

Julian Knight MP, chair of the digital, culture, media and sport committee, said some scenes of players celebrating en masse have been “brainless” and sent out the wrong message at a time infections have been rising significantly across the country.

Sport minister Nigel Huddleston also warned footballers to follow Covid-secure guidelines and for the game’s authorities to enforce them "strictly.”

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch this week wrote to all clubs reminding them that the game is “under the microscope” regarding how players and staff behave.

While the professional game has been allowed to continue despite the national lockdown, there are fears that patience could wear thin if the game is not seen to be doing everything possible to ensure safety.

Beech, speaking before news broke yesterday of United's next three games being suspended, said: “We’re a club that’s trying its best to keep the game going.

“Nigel [Clibbens, United chief executive] is supporting that, and the EFL want the game to keep going, of course they do.

“There’s got to be somewhere down the line some sort of line drawn where it becomes ethical/non-ethical or warrants a level playing field. Even for me the other day [at Harrogate], 24 hours before the game, losing four players who all are involved to play, that’s 40 per cent almost of the football team…that’s pretty hard to carry it on and have integrity to competition.

“It’s the current climate and that’s where we are.

“If we’re testing twice weekly, we’ve got to be mindful – and we are, and I’m very proud of the players who’ve managed to keep it out of the building until now, and how we’ve conducted ourselves from the first few days of training at Creighton [in the summer], twice a week, groups of five, not being able to be within two metres of each other, trying to get the lads fit for the season - very proud of that.”