The spirit of fair play lives on....

[Its only Ray Parlour]

Yeovil net freak goal

Lee Johnson scored a bizarre own goal
Yeovil 3-2 Plymouth
Yeovil striker Lee Johnson scored a bizarre goal against Plymouth in their Carling Cup tie on Tuesday.

Johnson attempted to play the ball back to Pilgrims keeper Luke McCormick after an injury stoppage but the Plymouth stopper had moved off his line.

Glovers boss Gary Johnson immediately allowed the opposition to score and said afterwards: "I told my team to allow Argyll to equalise.

"They stood still while Steve Crawford ran through to make it 1-1."

The manager was delighted after the match as his son Lee, who scored the bizarre opener, went on to score a hat-trick as Plymouth sealed a 3-2 extra-time win.

"It was a tremendous performance," he added.

"Yeovil are famous for the cup exploits and this was another of them.


I have never seen a goal like our equaliser in all my life and I hope I never will again
Plymouth boss Bobby Williamson

"We know Argyll have got where they are with an incredible work-rate but we matched them all the way."

Plymouth boss Bobby Williamson may not have been pleased with the result but felt that a sense of decency had been observed over the opening goal.

"I don't know whether their lad tried to put the ball in the net for the opening goal but fair play to Gary he allowed us to equalise," he said.

"I have never seen a goal like our equaliser in all my life and I hope I never will again.

"We never really got to grips with the game and Yeovil played well. They deserved what they got."

Anyone seen anything else like this? The last i heard of something like this is when Arsenal offered to replay a cup-tie against Sheffield United when Kanu scored a goal which "should" have been played back to the United after they had a player injured.

[NHRef]

Only time I have seen anything like that was in competitive archery in the finals for $10K, one guy had a dropped arrow and the arrow slide to far to reach, rules say its a shot arrow. His opponent, the #1 in the world, intentionally shot his arrow into the ground infront of the target.

[Dr. Wankler]

Anyone seen anything else like this? The last i heard of something like this is when Arsenal offered to replay a cup-tie against Sheffield United when Kanu scored a goal which "should" have been played back to the United after they had a player injured.

Closest I've seen was that match where the keeper blew out his knee and the attacking team (West Ham) crossed the ball and Paulo DiCanio, rather than heading it into the open net for the winner, caught the ball and waved the physios onto the field. I'm drawing a blank on who West Ham was playing (the Hammers were the visitors), but I remember the home fans singing "Paulo DiCanio" while the keeper was being stretchered off. The big difference, though, is that Paulo's gaffer wasn't very pleased with his display of sportsmanship.

[Its only Ray Parlour]

Closest I've seen was that match where the keeper blew out his knee and the attacking team (West Ham) crossed the ball and Paulo DiCanio, rather than heading it into the open net for the winner, caught the ball and waved the physios onto the field. I'm drawing a blank on who West Ham was playing (the Hammers were the visitors), but I remember the home fans singing "Paulo DiCanio" while the keeper was being stretchered off. The big difference, though, is that Paulo's gaffer wasn't very pleased with his display of sportsmanship.


It was against Everton at Goodison Park. The goalkeeper that went down injured was Paul Gerrard.

[Its only Ray Parlour]

Di Canio wins Fair Play award

West Ham's Italian striker Paolo di Canio has been awarded the Fifa Fair Play award for his actions in a Premiership game last season.

The Italian opted to catch the ball rather than shoot when Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was on the ground injured last season.

Football's ruling body described the gesture as a "special act of good sportsmanship".

The incident happened at Goodison Park last December.

Everton's goal was empty as Gerrard lay injured outside his area, but Di Canio opted to catch the ball to stop play so that Gerrard could get treatment, instead of going for goal.

The award represents an astonishing turnaround for the player, who was banned when he was a Sheffield Wednesday player for pushing referee Paul Alcock to the floor in 1998.

In addition to Di Canio's award, teenage Ghanaian player Sumaila Abdallah received a Fifa Fair Play diploma for saving the life of an opponent with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

..

[Dr. Wankler]

It was against Everton at Goodison Park. The goalkeeper that went down injured was Paul Gerrard.

Thanks. The location came back to me about halfway through my second cup of coffee, though I was still a cup or two away from remembering the goalkeeper's name.

Personally, I think that Robbie Savage actually getting a suspension would also be a sign that the spirit of fair play lives on.

[Tony Dellbird]

Yeah what happened last night was awesome, it's nice to see some people have maintained the spirit of fairplay.

[kylesoccer]

great to see, especially when they win 3-2 in the end. nice guys don't finish last.

[striker]

Personally, I think that Robbie Savage actually getting a suspension would also be a sign that the spirit of fair play lives on.

Even if he still has not been red-carded???