Following last nights hijinks between Yeovil and Birmingham in the League Cup second round, we have put our heads together and have come up with seven similar examples of unsportsmanlike/sporting behaviour from the world of football.
1. Marc Overmars
Or maybe that should read Kanu. The Nigerian, new to English football, intercepted the ball as Arsenal returned it to Sheffield United during an FA Cup game in 1999. He advanced on goal and squared it to Overmars, who scored. Steve Bruce, the Blades manager at the time, kicked up such a fuss that Arsene Wenger offered to replay the game. Not only was the replay technically unnecessary but the result was the same anyway, 2-1 to the Gunners.
2. Luis Adriano
The Shakhtar Donetsk striker found himself unexpectedly in the middle of a storm last season in a Champions League group stage game with Nordsjælland. Willian, a Shakhtar player at the time, was only returning a dropped ball back to the Danish defence following an injury to a Nordsjælland player but Adriano interpreted the situation as a through ball and ran onto it and scored. Until that point, the Danes had led 1-0, but would go on to lose 5-2.
3. Robbie Keane
In 2006, during the last North London derby at Highbury, Robbie Keane put Spurs ahead in a crucial Premier League game that was built as a fourth place decider. With Emmanuel Eboue down seemingly injured Edgar Davids crossed for Keane to tap in. Arsenal felt hard done by and Arsene Wenger would have an altercation on the sideline with Martin Jol as a result. In the end, Thierry Henry was sprung from the bench and equalised late on. The Gunners would go on to win their final three games and clinch fourth.
4. William Pottker
In an under 20s club game in Brazil between Figueirense and Bahia, young William Pottker knew exactly what he was doing when he competed a dropped ball and ran on to score. Once he had placed the ball past the keeper, he proceeded to act apologetic, raising his hands and refusing to celebrate. Unlike in the previous incidents however, the Brazilian was actually sent off.
5. Jose Pinto
Barcelonas long-serving substitute goalkeeper got a rare run-out in a Champions League dead-rubber with FC Copenhagen in November 2010, but he didn't exactly excel himself to the public. With Copenhagen's Cesar Santin through on goal, one-on-one with Pinto, the Spanish goalkeeper whistled in order to put off the advancing player. The attacker stopped playing assuming the referee has blown up play. The incident resulted in a ban for Pinto, the game finishing 1-1, and Pep Guardiola and Stale Solbakken getting into this argument on the sideline...
6. Thierry Henry
This one needs no explanation. Unlike with the Arsenal and Sheffield United example, there would sadly be no replay.
7. Jan Vertonghen
While still at Ajax, the current Tottenham defender scored this wonder goal, although he was only supposed to return the ball to the opposition keeper. So to make up for it, Ajax allowed the opposing team to score unattended, which they did, but they almost allowed the ball to go out for a goal kick before eventually getting it into the goal. Unlike last night's antics in Yeovil, Ajax were sportsmanlike when they were supposed to be rather than when it convenienced them.
