5 Weird Incidents in Football that capture the imagination

In a 1990 World Cup qualifier, Chile’s Roberto Rojas tries to con the referee into thinking that he was hit by a flare

Soviet Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich once quoted: “Football is the ballet of the masses”. Be it Liverpool fans’ deliberate attempt at keeping noise levels up to prevent Chelsea player’s from getting a good night’s sleep before the game or the Icardi-Maxi Lopes–Wanda Nara love triangle or even the banana thrown from the stands and gobbled up by Dani Alves as a show of defiance, the sport can literally turn into a soap opera. Here are 5 entertaining events during games that have all the makings of a WWE script (except that they’re real) and are bound to tickle your funny bone or leaving you gasping for air.

1) Zequinha – The Red Robbery

Zequinha started all 4 of Portugal’s matches at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada but failed to score or assist any goals as the country exited at the round of the 16 stage to Chile. He did however make a name for himself as the player who lost his head and robbed referee Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh of the red card he was about to produce at teammate Mano. He realized the scale of his mistake and was seen bitterly crying whilst leaving the pitch but it was all in vain as he was slapped with a one year ban from international football. Once touted as a future star, his lack of temperament and enforced break took his career off the rails. Following a few failed loan spells, he is now slowly rebuilding at Vitória de Setúbal under coach José Couceiro who was also the man in charge during that fateful tournament.

2) Roberto Rojas – The Razor treatment

As the clock ticked past the 70th minute mark and down 1-0 against hosts Brazil, a reaction was needed by the Chilean side on the brink of missing out on a World Cup 1990 spot. What followed though was unthinkable and in truth unforgivable as the Chile’s keeper Roberto Rojas deliberately cut himself with a razor hidden in his glove and went off bleeding, pretending that he was struck by a firework from the crowd thrown a few yards away. His teammates then staged a walk-off deeming conditions unsafe to continue and hoped that FIFA would either award them the result or place sanctions on Brazil, situations which would see them then qualify. However, Rojas’ disgraceful crime was caught on camera soon and FIFA took a tough stand on the issue dismissing the country from playing any part in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup. The keeper in question was banned for life (subsequently lifted in 2001) and the team’s coach, captain and doctor were meted out with a similar treatment albeit for a shorter period of time. Amazingly, the fan (Rosemary de Mello) who threw the firecracker was identified and subsequently asked to pose for Playboy!

3) Ryan Donk – The Double ball trouble

Turkish football is never far from the limelight and former West Brom defender Ryan Donk was at the centre of a storm for this one. Donk attemptted to stop a Be?ikta? attack by throwing a second ball at striker Hugo Almeida’s feet. He held on to a ball that found its way on the pitch before waiting for the opportune moment to unleash the devilish trick . The act left the referee in a limbo and unaware of the rules in such a situation, he let the player off with only a yellow card and awarded a drop ball in the penalty box! . The sight of Donk actually pleading his innocence is one to behold. That was just the spark needed to ignite the contest as a Kasimpasa fan ran on to take down Manuel Fernandes a while later before getting kicked by Be?ikta? players for his efforts, who were in turn sent for early showers.

4) Karl Powers – The Mystery Man

Renowned prankster Karl Power’s pulled off a huge stunt by appearing in a Manchester United team photo before a UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich in 2001. He managed to sneak in silently and stand besides Andy Cole in the team photo. His other commendable feats include beating Michael Schumacher to the winner’s podium at the 2002 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, performing the haka for the England Rugby team, walking onto the pitch during an England vs. Australia cricket match and playing a short game at Wimbledon before Tim Henman’s turn. Power’s luck at Old Trafford ran out though as Manchester United banned him for life after he invaded the pitch along with his accomplices in full kit and re-enacted Diego Forlán’s goal against Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the 2003 season.

5) Erik Mjelde – The Freak Lob

Lillestrom and Brann were playing what could turn out to be a potential relegation six pointer back in the 2012 season after their respective poor starts to the campaign. It was a high octane 1st half with Brann going into the lemon break up 3-2. The match took a controversial turn in the 49th minute though when Brann midfielder Erik Mjelde meant to pass the ball back to Lillestrom after it was played out due to injury moments earlier but instead ended up scoring a freak 60-yard goal that incredibly bounced over the rival keeper. Pandemonium ensued and whilst most of the Brann player’s allowed Lillestrom a goal back in the interest of fairness, their goalkeeper actively tried to stop the move unsuccessfully. The final score read 4-3 to Brann but the scar left behind led local TV commentator Morten Langli to quote: “It’s the sickest thing I’ve seen in Norwegian football ever. These are images that will go around the world!”