The Craziest on-Pitch Moments in World Football

Football is a crazy game for many reasons.

It's crazy that teenagers can become millionaires for kicking a ball towards a net; it's crazy that fans can unconditionally adore a side that plays on the other side of the world to them; and it's crazy that Manchester United paid £7.4 million for the privilege of having Bebe playing for them.

Here, B/R has attempted to provide 10 of the craziest moments that have occurred on the pitch.

Of course, this list is by no means comprehensive, so take a look through, enjoy the videos and make your suggestions for crazy moments in the comments.  

Zinedine Zidane's World Cup Head-Butt

You are the captain of the French national team and you are playing in the biggest game on the planet: The World Cup Final.

It is also the final game of a glittering career that has seen you crowned World Player of the Year three times and considered one of the greatest men ever to grace the field.

When an opponent trash talks you, do you: (A) Ignore it and use the negative energy to spur you to lifting your second World Cup trophy on your swan-song; or (B) head-butt them and get sent off, leaving your countrymen to lose the biggest game of their lives on penalties?

If you are Zinedine Zidane in 2006, then you choose B. 

Suarez Handy Contribution

Luis Suarez is no stranger to crazy antics on the field—just ask Branislav Ivanovic—but his reputation as a dishonourable cheat was cast in stone at the 2010 World Cup finals.

With the score at 1-1 in extra time of Uruguay's quarter-final match with Ghana, the striker saved what should have been Stephen Appiah's winner on the line with his hands (even though it looked like he might have actually been able to reach the ball with his head).

He was sent off, but his sacrifice ultimately helped Uruguay progress as they held their nerve in the ensuing penalty shoot-out. 

Zaire's Unusual Free-Kick Defence

Here's one more dose of World Cup craziness for good measure.

Zaire somehow made it to the 1974 finals in West Germany, even though at least one of their players wasn't aware of the rules. 

As Brazil lined up to take a free-kick in their group match, defender Mwepu Ilunga leapt from the wall and lamped the ball up the field. He earned a yellow card and the utter bemusement of the global audience watching him. 

Stefan Kiessling's Ghost Goal

Bayer Leverkusen recently triumphed over Hoffenheim thanks to a goal that never actually went in. 

Stefan Kiessling's 70th-minute header went wide of the mark, but it somehow crept into the onion bag through a hole in the side netting. 

Referee Felix Brych awarded the goal, even though Kiessling initially appeared distraught at missing the opportunity—which he had.

Kiessling offered an apology for the incident, but Goal.com confirm that the result will stand following a Hoffenheim appeal. 

An honourable ghost goal mention should also go to Reading's trip to Watford in 2004, where the Royals were awarded a goal despite the ball going nowhere near the net. 

The Drunk Belarusian Referee

Sergei Shmolik qualified as a FIFA referee in 1993 and has officiated at several major international matches.

In 2007, he was voted the best referee in Belarus, but his reputation took a battering in 2008 when he showed up to a game completely battered.

The tipsy 43-year-old barely left the centre circle during the Premier League match between Vitebsk and Naftan, and a medical tested later confirmed he was three sheets to the wind. 

Unsurprisingly, he was suspended from duty following this bizarre match, which finished 1-1. 

Rene Higuita's Scorpion Kick

Let's not beat around the bush: Goalkeeper Rene Higuita was as mad as a box of frogs. 

The Colombian scored 41 career goals, he went to prison for working with drug baron Pablo Escobar and he completely changed his appearance with plastic surgery. 

But risk-prone Higuita is probably best known for the scorpion kick he pulled off at Wembley in a friendly against England in September 1995, turning an aimless cross-come-shot from Jamie Redknapp into something truly memorable. 

Eric Cantona's Kung Fu Kick

Technically speaking, this incident took place a few yards away from the field, but it is unprecedented in its violent craziness. 

When Manchester Utd visited Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace in January 1995, Eric Cantona was shown a red card for kicking Eagles defender Richard Shaw. "There's the morning headline," said the commentator, not aware of what was about to happen next. 

A Palace fan verbally abused the Frenchman as he exited the field and rather than giving a Gallic shrug, he responded with a kung fu kick and a barrage of punches. 

Cantona received a four-month ban for the martial arts demonstration while a two-week prison sentence was reduced to 120 hours of community service. 

The Parachute Pitch Invasion

Pitch invasions are a relatively regular occurrence in the beautiful game, and we have even seen dogs, cats and pine martens encroach the field. 

The most bizarre invasion, however, might be the man who parachuted into a Conference match between Salisbury City and Chester FC last month. 

The drop-in appears to be accidental, but the referee probably booked him for descent anyway...

The Match That Finished 149-0

In October 2002, Madagascan league champions AS Adema destroyed their rivals Stade Olympique I'Emyrne with 149 unanswered goals.

The ridiculous scoreline wasn't because Olympique had an atrocious game—the BBC noted at the time that they were deliberately scoring own goals one after the other in protest against a refereeing decision. 

AS Adema stood around looking perplexed as their opponents sent each kick-off back into their own net. The referee seemed to have the last laugh, as he let the result stand and gave Olympique a humiliating world record.

Darren Bent's Beach Ball Goal

When Liverpool visited the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland in October 2009, a Liverpool fan thought it would be amusing to throw a beach ball on to the field of play. 

The smile almost certainly disappeared from his face when Darren Bent's shot took a wild deflection off the seaside toy, confusing Pepe Reina and helping the Black Cats earn a 1-0 victory.

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