Skip to main content
FourFourTwo FourFourTwo FOOTBALL NEWS, FEATURES, QUIZZES
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of 대한민국
대한민국
flag of Türkiye
Türkiye
  • Soccer Cleat Buying Guides
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Video
  • Features
  • Quizzes
  • Clubs
  • More
    • Interviews
    • The Magazine Archive
    • Subscribe
    • Lists
    • How to watch
    • About
FourFourTwo Magazine
FourFourTwo Magazine
Why subscribe?
  • Fascinating feature articles, covering everything from grass-roots football to the international scene
  • 'ACCESS ALL AREAS' pass to exclusive interviews with the biggest and best names in the game!
From$29.99
View
Trending
  • WATCH the UCL
  • Transfers
  • Interviews
  • Messi
  • Ronaldo
  • EPL
Recommended reading
Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho celebrates the victory of his team, 30 June 2002 in Yokohama, Japan, after the final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and Germany. Brazil won the final 2-0. AFP PHOTO - Patrick HERTZOG
Stories The ridiculous new reason players will get yellow cards in Brazil and the former Premier League star who inspired the rule
Free-kicks ranked
Lists Ranked! The 20 best free kicks of all time
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 22, 2022 in Manchester, England.
Quiz Quiz! Can you tell us who this iconic Roy Keane quotes were about?
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring a penalty for Liverpool during the Premier League match against Southampton at Anfield in Liverpool, England on 8 March, 2025.
Quiz Quiz! Can you name every player to have scored 30+ goals in one of Europe's top five leagues since 2010?
Referee David Elleray shows Red card to Duncan Ferguson of Everton and Sends him Off during the Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers and Everton at Ewood Park on September 21, 1996 in Blackburn, England.
Sport ‘A striker getting the most red cards is no good, I don’t see myself as that person. Some of my reds were ridiculous. One was for singing to a referee!’ Duncan Ferguson feels he doesn’t deserve the Premier League record for most red cards
Tim Howard in action for Everton in 2012
Quiz Quiz! Can you name every Premier League player with between 80 and 100 goals?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Quiz Quiz! Can you name every 2010s Golden Boot winner from Europe's top five leagues?
  1. Features

10 of football's most bizarre goal reactions: fines, fights... and firearms

By Greg Lea published 6 February 2018

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Bizarre goal reactions

Bizarre goal reactions

Goals, as the cliché goes, change games, so it’s only natural for participants and supporters to respond with jubilation when their team finds the net. It also follows that the concession of a goal can provoke anger and frustration, but there have been numerous occasions when some of the people involved have taken things a tad too far.

In this slideshow, we pick out 10 of the most bizarre goal reactions, featuring episodes from England, Argentina and Elland Road.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
George Graham: sore winner

George Graham: sore winner

Delighted with a routine 3-1 win against Queens Park Rangers in late 1986, Arsenal supporters barely even noticed the visitors’ late consolation. His irate boss George Graham certainly did, though, and duly locked defenders Kenny Sansom, Viv Anderson, Tony Adams and David O’Leary in the dressing room for over an hour to deliver the mother of all rollockings.

“George questioned whether we wanted to play at Arsenal,” Sansom later revealed. The Gunners hadn’t conceded in the previous five games, and they still emerged victorious against QPR. What a perfectionist.

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Flamengo fan guns for match ball

Flamengo fan guns for match ball

“It wasn’t the first time I’d seen that happen,” claimed Brazilian maverick Caju after an explosive end to a game between Botafogo and Flamengo in 1970. 

When O Fogao notched a late equaliser, an incensed rival fan ran onto the pitch armed with a loaded pistol and proceeded to pump its contents into the match ball. In the grand scheme of things, he chose his target sensibly – better an inanimate sphere than any of the Botafogo players or match officials – but Caju clearly wasn’t impressed.

“He was a nutter,” the attacking midfielder said later. “He needs a new brain.”  

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Willis Edwards punishes the post

Willis Edwards punishes the post

Leeds right-half Willis Edwards, a £1,500 signing from Chesterfield in 1925, was renowned for his borderline psychotic will to win. But he took things too far in the 1926 close-season when, in a practice game, he repeatedly booted his own goalpost after the Yorkshire outfit conceded a late goal.

Edwards broke three toes and nearly missed the start of the upcoming season. The reaction would have been understandable had there been points on the line, but a pre-season friendly? Take a chill pill, Will.

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Cristiano Ronaldo fails to hail Bale

Cristiano Ronaldo fails to hail Bale

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale was understandably delighted to have scored in a 2015 game against Levante, ending a barren run of 10 matches without a goal for the Wales international.

But not everyone was chuffed for the wide man: rather than celebrate with Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo threw his arms up in disgruntlement when the ball crossed the line, having scuffed his bicycle attempt moments earlier.

"It's difficult to be Cristiano and he has been performing at a very high level for a number of years," team-mate Sergio Ramos reasoned post-match. Poor old Ronnie.

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Fink's fines

Fink's fines

With his team locked in a relegation battle in March 2012 and just a handful of Bundesliga games remaining, Hamburg boss Thorsten Fink employed a unique approach to improve Die Rothosen’s defending from free-kicks and corners: fining them €500 per set-piece strike conceded.

“I was like a father,” he harrumphed. “Footballers are like children. But I let them take some money back out of the pot once we’d stayed up.” Have that, Mother Theresa.

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Rebottaro's one-man walk-out

Rebottaro's one-man walk-out

Newell’s Old Boys defender Rebottaro was a renowned firebrand defender, repeatedly berating his back four for their sloppiness.

But Rebottaro took things a step further in a 1972 league fixture against River Plate by simply walking out of the ground at half-time after his side conceded just before the break. “I admire his passion, but one has to stay and fight,” said manager Juan Urriolabeitia. Which was a pretty calm reaction in the circumstances.

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Gunn fired

Gunn fired

When Colchester went 4-0 up inside 22 minutes of their 2009 game at Norwich, one furious home supporter sprinted towards manager Bryan Gunn – a Canaries legend who made almost 500 appearances for the club – and ripped up his £350 season ticket. It was the opening day of the campaign. 

Gunn departed a week later and Norwich soon recovered from that 7-1 shellacking to win the league with 95 points under Paul Lambert – the coach who’d masterminded Colchester’s early-season lesson. Err, don’t suppose there’s any chance of getting that season ticket back?

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Footloose Roose answers abuse

Footloose Roose answers abuse

The clown prince of goalkeepers during the early 20th century, Stoke shot-stopper Leigh Richmond Roose thought nothing of sitting on top of his crossbar during breaks in play, or engaging in conversation with members of the crowd.

He also had the shortest of fuses, and in 1905 sought out a barracker who’d criticised him for conceding a late goal against Everton. At a swanky post-match reception, Roose booted him straight in the plums; it’s safe to say the supporter in question kept his thoughts to himself from that point onwards.

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Wijtschate euthanasia

Wijtschate euthanasia

When Belgian lower-league outfit Wijtschate conceded their 16th goal in a meeting with Vladslo in 2002, referee Marc Gevaert did the humane thing and called time on the game after 80 minutes.

“I didn’t want to start sending off any of their players, but they were starting to get frustrated and upset,” explained the kindly man in black, who was clearly concerned for the safety of all those involved.

“We didn’t want the referee taking any pity on us,” complained a club spokesman, his team’s backline having been breached on 132 occasions in 15 matches. There’s just no pleasing some people.

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Grob the Gob's Macca-smacking

Grob the Gob's Macca-smacking

Steve McManaman’s poor clearance in a 1993 derby with Everton was responsible for Mark Ward’s opening goal, which didn’t escape the attention of the Liverpool winger’s goalkeeper, Bruce Grobbelaar.

The Zimbabwean shot-stopper grabbed his colleague by the throat, gave him a piece of his mind and shoved him in the face. McManaman gave the eccentric stopper a bit back before walking away from the enraged net-minder, which was probably the wisest decision he made all game.

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Greg Lea
Greg Lea
Social Links Navigation

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).

Read more
Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho celebrates the victory of his team, 30 June 2002 in Yokohama, Japan, after the final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and Germany. Brazil won the final 2-0. AFP PHOTO - Patrick HERTZOG
The ridiculous new reason players will get yellow cards in Brazil and the former Premier League star who inspired the rule
Free-kicks ranked
Ranked! The 20 best free kicks of all time
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 22, 2022 in Manchester, England.
Quiz! Can you tell us who this iconic Roy Keane quotes were about?
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring a penalty for Liverpool during the Premier League match against Southampton at Anfield in Liverpool, England on 8 March, 2025.
Quiz! Can you name every player to have scored 30+ goals in one of Europe's top five leagues since 2010?
Referee David Elleray shows Red card to Duncan Ferguson of Everton and Sends him Off during the Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers and Everton at Ewood Park on September 21, 1996 in Blackburn, England.
‘A striker getting the most red cards is no good, I don’t see myself as that person. Some of my reds were ridiculous. One was for singing to a referee!’ Duncan Ferguson feels he doesn’t deserve the Premier League record for most red cards
Tim Howard in action for Everton in 2012
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League player with between 80 and 100 goals?
Latest in Lists
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Laura Woods, TNT Sports presenter before the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal FC at City Ground on January 30, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Women's Euro 2025: Who are the ITV presenters, pundits and commentators?
BBC Sport Presenter, Alex Scott, reacts prior to the Barclays Women's Super League match between Everton and Manchester City at Walton Hall Park on December 15, 2024 in Liverpool, England.
Women's Euro 2025: Who are the BBC presenters, pundits and commentators?
The 100 most expensive football transfers of all time: Florian Wirtz is unveiled as a Liverpool player after his signing at AXA Training Centre on June 20, 2025 in Kirkby, England.
The 100 most expensive football transfers of all time
2026 World Cup stadium guide: General view during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 semifinal match between Canada and Argentina at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
2026 World Cup stadium guide: The full list of venues
The 100 most expensive football transfers of all time: Florian Wirtz is unveiled as a Liverpool player after his signing at AXA Training Centre on June 20, 2025 in Kirkby, England.
The 100 most expensive football transfers of all time
Ranked! The 10 best strikers in the world
Ranked! The 10 best strikers in the world
Latest in Features
Tim Howard in action for Everton in 2012
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League player with between 80 and 100 goals?
Women's Euro 2025 predictor
Women's Euro 2025 predictor: Play with our interactive prediction game
Esther Gonzalez plays against Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood during the UEFA Women's Nations League 2024/25 Group A3 match between Spain and England at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on June 3, 2025.
Women's Euro 2025 fixtures: The full schedule
Newcastle United 2025/26 third kit
The Newcastle United 2025/26 third kit is out - and this is one of the Magpies' greatest-ever efforts
Paul Gascoigne in action for England at the 1990 World Cup.
Quiz! Can you name every nation to have reached a World Cup semi-final?
Quiz! Can you name every English player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000?
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres poses with his medal after the Portuguese League football match between Sporting CP and Vitoria Guimaraes SC at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on May 17, 2025. Sporting Lisbon defended their Portuguese crown today with a 2-0 win over Guimaraes to hold off rivals Benfica on the final day of the Primeira Liga season.
    1
    Arsenal 'agree five-year deal' with Viktor Gyokeres, with deal within touching distance: report
  2. 2
    Liverpool report: 'Historic wage-breaking deal' coming for Alexander Isak, with Reds looking at other attackers
  3. 3
    Newcastle United launch monster bid for defender: report
  4. 4
    Liverpool strike 'agreement in principle' over Marc Guehi move: report
  5. 5
    Arsenal midfielder edging towards exit, following frosty comment: report

FourFourTwo is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About FourFourTwo
  • Advertise with us
  • Worldwide
  • How to pitch to FourFourTwo

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...