Tim Cahill, the Everton midfield player, has apologised “wholeheartedly” for his controversial goal celebration during the 3-1 Barclays Premier League victory over Portsmouth at Goodison Park on Sunday. As Cahill sped away in delight after scoring Everton's second goal, he crossed his wrists as if handcuffed in a gesture of support for his older brother, Sean, who was jailed for six years in January for an attack that left a man partially blind in one eye.

Cahill claimed yesterday that the celebration was a “spontaneous and emotional reaction”, but it was not the first time that the player has celebrated scoring in such a manner. Cahill performed the same celebration after scoring Australia's second goal in their 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Qatar in Melbourne last month.

“It was a spontaneous and emotional reaction, but was only intended to signify to my brother that I was thinking of him and missing him,” Cahill, 28, said. “I wholeheartedly apologise if any offence was caused.”

Sean Cahill was jailed after punching and kicking Christopher Stapley, a quantity surveyor, during a fight outside a taxi rank in Bromley, southeast London, in July 2004. After fleeing to Sydney while on bail, he was extradited and found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Tim Cahill was due to fly to Florence today with the Everton squad for the first leg of their Uefa Cup round of 16 tie against Fiorentina and Lee Carsley is adamant that the club's pursuit of European silverware will not jeopardise their push to finish fourth in the league.

“We've heard that people say the Uefa Cup could be a distraction for us, but that's not going to be the case,” the midfield player said. “We have got a big enough squad now to cope with the demands and if anyone is feeling tired, there are players who are more than capable of coming in to do a job.”