NFL players have been slammed by fans have performing a mock CPR in celebration of a successful sack less than a week after Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.
Pittsburgh Steelers players performed the 'disrespectful' celebration after Alex Highsmith successfully made a tackle as his opponent went to pass, known as a sack, in their match against the Cleveland Browns.
As Highsmith lay on the floor his team-mate came over to him and started to mock pumping his chest in celebration of the move which ended the Browns' offensive move.
The celebration came just days after 24-year-old Hamlin's heart went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle while playing for the Buffalo Bills against Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.
Ambulance crews performed CPR on Hamlin and used a defibrillator to restart his heart before taking him to the hospital where the star was initially in a critical condition.
On Saturday, Hamlin made his first social media post ahead of the 12-3 Bills 12-3 victory over New England Patriots.
Hamlin posted a picture of himself in his Cincinnati hospital bed wearing a t-shirt supporting his road to recovery. He wrote: "GAMETIME!!! @BuffaloBills" - along with a blue heart.
Fans were quick to slam the Steelers' mock CPR celebration which came less than a week after Hamlin almost lost his life on the pitch. Voicing his view on Twitter, @WrRumph said: "The Pittsburgh Steelers are utterly disrespectful for trying to re-enact what happened to Damar Hamilton, the bar has been set extremely low."
Another urged Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin to take action against those involved. @LTrevoc added: "I've lost all respect for that team. If Mike Tomlin doesn't address that despicable act, he'll lose my respect too."
Steelers fans were also left disappointed with their team's inappropriate celebration. @ReeceJMartin16 posted: "Maybe not the most appropriate celebration for this week...." While another supporter of the team also blasted the celebration. @mlc118 added: "Embarrassing as a Steeler fan. Wonder why we haven’t won a playoff game in 6 years."
Despite the Steelers winning the game 28-14 their celebrations were short-lived as they finished third in the AFC North resulting in them missing the play-offs.
