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Football · Interesting Facts

Chapter 6: Quirky Matches & Rule Trivia

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 23 October 2026 · markdown

The strangest, most extreme and most infamous moments in football told as 'did you know' trivia, not officiating guidance: freak scorelines and weather, strange goals and cards, odd places to play, marathon matches, forgotten rules, named skills and superstitions.

6.61Extreme Scorelines, Records & Infamous Matches

Football's strangest extremes: a protest match that produced 149 own goals, the fastest and longest goals ever recorded, the greatest European final comeback, and the World Cup's most violent afternoon.

Test 1Extreme scorelines, records and infamous matchesTake a test

  1. In a 2002 Madagascar league match, SO l'Emyrne deliberately scored 149 own goals in protest at a refereeing decision that had cost them the title, producing the highest scoreline in recorded football history.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of the AS Adema v SO l'Emyrne match · recall

  2. Maradona punched the ball past England's goalkeeper in the 1986 quarter-final; because referee Ali Bin Nasser and his assistant missed the handball and had no replay access, the goal stood.

    Source: FIFA, fifa.com/en/articles/diego-maradona-argentina-england-hand-of-god-1986 · recall

  3. Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored 129 goals for Sao Paulo between 1997 and 2015, mostly from free kicks and penalties, the Guinness World Record for a goalkeeper.

    Source: Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-goals-scored-by-a-goalkeeper · recall

  4. Newport County goalkeeper Tom King broke Asmir Begovic's 2013 record with a 96.01-metre goal in 2021, the current Guinness World Record for the longest goal scored.

    Source: Cross-checked reporting on Tom King's 2021 record goal · recall

  5. AC Milan led 3-0 at half-time, but Liverpool scored three goals in six second-half minutes to level it, then won 3-2 on penalties, the greatest comeback in a European Cup final.

    Source: UEFA, uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025d-0f782b45c942-3e20b8c30dfa-1000--miracle-of-istanbul-2005-champions-league-final-in-the-w · recall

  6. Australian striker Damian Mori scored for Adelaide City against Sydney United after just 3.69 seconds on 6 December 1995, the fastest goal in men's football recognised by Guinness World Records.

    Source: Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/72575-fastest-goal-football-video · recall

  7. Chile beat Italy 2-0 in a brutal 1962 World Cup group match with two sendings-off and repeated police intervention; referee Ken Aston later cited the chaos as part of what led him to invent the card system.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of the Battle of Santiago · recall

  8. American Michael Lewis threw a football 59.817 metres in Texas in 2019, the Guinness World Record for the farthest football throw-in.

    Source: Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-throw-in-(football) · recall

  9. Tokyo Verdy's Tomo Sugawara was sent off just 10 seconds into a 2009 J-League 2 match for handling to stop an opponent reaching the box, one of the fastest red cards recorded in professional football.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of fast red cards in professional football · recall

  10. After a string of red cards and injuries left Sheffield United unable to field enough players, the match was abandoned after 82 minutes, the only match in English professional football history stopped for that reason.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of the abandoned Sheffield United v West Bromwich Albion match · recall

6.62Firsts, Feats & Record-Low Crowds

A million-pound transfer, an amateur upset for the ages, an invented penalty technique, and the emptiest grounds ever to host professional football.

Test 1Transfer, penalty, hat-trick and attendance triviaTake a test

  1. Trevor Francis moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest for a fee reported as £1 million on 9 February 1979, then scored the winner in that year's European Cup final.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of Trevor Francis's transfer · recall

  2. A largely amateur United States team beat England, then among the favourites, 1-0 in Belo Horizonte on 29 June 1950, one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of the 1950 USA v England match · recall

  3. With the shootout at 4-3, Panenka sent West Germany's goalkeeper the wrong way with a delicately chipped penalty, a technique now known worldwide as a 'Panenka'.

    Source: UEFA, uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7ad65d5ee8-a6bff388bd0f-1000--watch-panenka-s-classic-1976-final-penalty · recall

  4. Torquay United's Pat Kruse headed the ball into his own net just 6 seconds after kick-off against Cambridge United in January 1977, still cited as the fastest own goal in English league football.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of Pat Kruse's 1977 own goal · recall

  5. IFFHS and RSSSF credit Josef Bican with around 800 goals in official matches alone, more than Pele's official tally, while Pele's own much higher total includes friendlies and exhibition games.

    Source: Cross-checked reporting on the Bican-Pele goals dispute · recall

  6. Hull City and Manchester United's 1970 Watney Cup tie, level after extra time, became the first competitive professional match settled by a shootout; George Best took the first kick.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of the 1970 Watney Cup shootout · recall

  7. Sadio Mane scored three goals in 2 minutes 56 seconds for Southampton against Aston Villa on 16 May 2015, beating Robbie Fowler's previous record.

    Source: Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/385454-fastest-hat-trick-in-a-football-soccer-english-premier-league-match · recall

  8. Arsenal went 49 Premier League matches unbeaten from May 2003 to October 2004, including a full unbeaten 2003-04 season, still the record.

    Source: Arsenal official history, arsenal.com/history/the-wenger-years/the-2004-invincibles · recall

  9. Romania's group match against Peru at the 1930 World Cup drew an estimated crowd of only a few hundred, the lowest attendance recorded at any World Cup match.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of 1930 World Cup attendances · recall

  10. Only 469 people watched Thames play Luton Town on 6 December 1930, despite West Ham Stadium's 120,000 capacity being the largest ever to regularly host league football.

    Source: Cross-checked histories of Thames AFC's attendance record · recall

6.63Fog, Snow and Floods

Bartram in the fog, the water battle of Frankfurt, the Snow Clasico and the Big Freeze.

Test 1Weather-hit matchesTake a test

  1. Firefighters tried to clear the water; Gerd Müller scored the only goal in Frankfurt.

    Source: DFB, 'Die Wasserschlacht von Frankfurt 1974' (dfb.de); FIFA World Cup 1974 match report · recall

  2. Snow fell so heavily that the lines were cleared by hand during the qualifier.

    Source: U.S. Soccer, 'The Snow Clasico' (ussoccer.com, 2013); CONCACAF · recall

  3. FIFA rejected the protest.

    Source: U.S. Soccer, 'The Snow Clasico' (ussoccer.com, 2013); CONCACAF · recall

  4. Frozen pitches forced match after match to be postponed.

    Source: The FA, 'The Big Freeze of 1962-63' (thefa.com); EFL history · recall

  5. A panel of former players and referees forecast the scores.

    Source: Football Pools, 'The Pools Panel' (footballpools.com); The FA · recall

  6. Stoke and Sheffield United played the last match on 14 June; Liverpool were champions.

    Source: EFL, 'The 1946-47 season' (efl.com) · recall

  7. Fixtures had to be squeezed into the spring.

    Source: The FA, 'The Big Freeze of 1962-63' (thefa.com); EFL history · recall

  8. 1937, 1947, 1963, 1974 and 2013.

    Source: The FA, 'The Big Freeze of 1962-63' (thefa.com); EFL history · recall

  9. December 1962, January 1963 and March 1963.

    Source: The FA, 'The Big Freeze of 1962-63' (thefa.com); EFL history · recall

  10. Sam Bartram stood there for about a quarter of an hour before a policeman told him everyone had gone.

    Source: Charlton Athletic, 'Sam Bartram and the fog of 1937' (cafc.co.uk) · recall

6.64Strange Goals

A deliberate own goal, a ghost goal, a phantom goal, four goals for both sides and the fastest hat-trick.

Test 1Strange goalsTake a test

  1. Barbados needed to win by two; they forced extra time at 2-2 and then won with a golden goal.

    Source: Barbados Football Association, '1994 Shell Caribbean Cup: Barbados v Grenada' reports; BBC Sport archive · recall

  2. Barbados had to defend both goals to stop them.

    Source: Barbados Football Association, '1994 Shell Caribbean Cup: Barbados v Grenada' reports; BBC Sport archive · recall

  3. The officials gave it after a corner went past the post; the incident became known as the ghost goal.

    Source: Reading FC, 'The ghost goal against Watford, 2008' (readingfc.co.uk); BBC Sport · recall

  4. Villa drew 2-2 at Leicester.

    Source: Aston Villa, 'Chris Nicholl's four goals at Leicester, 1976' (avfc.co.uk) · recall

  5. Guinness World Records lists it as the fastest hat-trick in a senior match.

    Source: Ross County FC, 'Tommy Ross's 90-second hat-trick' (rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk); Guinness World Records · recall

  6. It beat Ledley King's 9.82 seconds from 2000.

    Source: Premier League, 'Shane Long's 7.69-second goal' (premierleague.com, 2019) · recall

  7. He gave the goal on the word of his assistant.

    Source: Reading FC, 'The ghost goal against Watford, 2008' (readingfc.co.uk); BBC Sport · recall

  8. 1976, 1994, 2008 and 2013.

    Source: Barbados Football Association, '1994 Shell Caribbean Cup: Barbados v Grenada' reports; BBC Sport archive · recall

  9. The final score after extra time was 4-2.

    Source: Barbados Football Association, '1994 Shell Caribbean Cup: Barbados v Grenada' reports; BBC Sport archive · recall

  10. Hoffenheim's request for a replay was rejected; the rules now let referees use video for such cases.

    Source: Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DFB statements on Kießling's 'Phantomtor' (2013) · recall

6.65Strange Cards and Sendings-off

The Battle of Nuremberg, a referee who sent himself off, a two-second red and 36 in one match.

Test 1Unusual dismissalsTake a test

  1. There were also four red cards in the 'Battle of Nuremberg'.

    Source: FIFA, 2006 World Cup match report: Portugal v Netherlands, Nuremberg (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  2. He was criticised for losing control of the match.

    Source: FIFA, 2006 World Cup match report: Portugal v Netherlands, Nuremberg (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  3. He had lost his temper and punched the player before showing himself the red card.

    Source: BBC News, 'Referee sends himself off' (1998) · recall

  4. He was startled by the whistle and cursed out loud.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Fastest sending-off' (Lee Todd, 2000) · recall

  5. The Cameroon defender was dismissed in 1994 and 1998.

    Source: FIFA, World Cup disciplinary records (inside.fifa.com); Cameroon match reports 1994 and 1998 · recall

  6. A brawl at the end of Claypole v Victoriano Arenas led to everyone being sent off, substitutes and staff included.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Most red cards in a football match' (Claypole v Victoriano Arenas, 2011) · recall

  7. He was playing for Chelsea in an FA Cup tie.

    Source: Chelsea FC heritage (chelseafc.com); BBC Sport, 'Fastest bookings' · recall

  8. 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2006.

    Source: FIFA, World Cup disciplinary records (inside.fifa.com); Cameroon match reports 1994 and 1998 · recall

  9. 1992, 2000 and 2011.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Most red cards in a football match' (Claypole v Victoriano Arenas, 2011) · recall

  10. He was sent off for abusing the referee from the bench against Sweden.

    Source: FIFA, 2002 World Cup match report: Sweden v Argentina (inside.fifa.com) · recall

6.66Odd Places to Play

Kilimanjaro, a floating pitch, a mountain stadium reached by cable car and pitches by the sea.

Test 1Unusual pitchesTake a test

  1. Women players from around the world played at about 5,700 metres.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Highest altitude football match' (Kilimanjaro, 2017) · recall

  2. Teams from dozens of countries take part each July.

    Source: Gothia Cup, 'About the tournament' (gothiacup.se) · recall

  3. It has hosted football, the National Day parade and concerts.

    Source: Singapore Sports Hub and Urban Redevelopment Authority, 'The Float @ Marina Bay' (ura.gov.sg) · recall

  4. It sits at about 2,000 metres above sea level.

    Source: Valais tourism, 'Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, Gspon' (valais.ch) · recall

  5. The pitch sat right beside the water.

    Source: Faroese Football Association (fsf.fo) and Visit Faroe Islands (visitfaroeislands.com) · recall

  6. The pitch fills almost the whole islet.

    Source: Visit Norway, 'Henningsvær football pitch' (visitnorway.com) · recall

  7. Matches are played on dozens of pitches around the city.

    Source: Gothia Cup, 'About the tournament' (gothiacup.se) · recall

  8. 1975, 1986, 2007 and 2017.

    Source: Gothia Cup (gothiacup.se), Tourism Authority of Thailand, URA Singapore and Guinness World Records · recall

  9. Lofoten lies inside the Arctic Circle; Koh Panyee is in the tropics.

    Source: Gothia Cup (gothiacup.se), Tourism Authority of Thailand, URA Singapore and Guinness World Records · recall

  10. Their club, Panyee FC, went on to win youth tournaments on the mainland.

    Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand, 'Koh Panyee and its floating football pitch' (tourismthailand.org) · recall

6.67Long Matches and Long Shoot-outs

203 minutes in 1946, six FA Cup matches, three misses in one game and a 48-kick shoot-out.

Test 1Marathon matches and shoot-outsTake a test

  1. The rules said play on until a goal; it was still 2-2 when the light went.

    Source: Stockport County, 'The longest match: Doncaster 1946' (stockportcounty.com) · recall

  2. The six matches took about eleven hours of football.

    Source: The FA, 'Alvechurch v Oxford City, 1971' FA Cup records (thefa.com) · recall

  3. Argentina lost 3-0 to Colombia; Guinness lists it as a record.

    Source: CONMEBOL, 'Copa América 1999: Argentina v Colombia' (conmebol.com); Guinness World Records · recall

  4. They missed two in the match and three in the shoot-out.

    Source: UEFA, 'Euro 2000 semi-final: Italy v Netherlands' (uefa.com) · recall

  5. Every player on the pitch took a kick.

    Source: Liverpool FC, '2022 League Cup final shoot-out' (liverpoolfc.com); EFL · recall

  6. Players dribbled at the goalkeeper and had five seconds to shoot.

    Source: Major League Soccer, 'The 35-yard shootout, 1996-99' (mlssoccer.com) · recall

  7. Twenty-four kicks were taken in the quarter-final.

    Source: CAF, 'Africa Cup of Nations 2006: Ivory Coast v Cameroon' (cafonline.com) · recall

  8. 1946, 1971, 1999, 2000 and 2005.

    Source: Guinness World Records, MLS and EFL records of penalty shoot-outs · recall

  9. 1996, 2006 and 2022.

    Source: Guinness World Records, MLS and EFL records of penalty shoot-outs · recall

  10. KK Palace beat Civics 17-16 after 2-2.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest penalty shoot-out' (KK Palace v Civics, 2005) · recall

6.68Rules From the Past

Test matches, two-legged cup ties, a cup third-place match, goal average and Christmas Day fixtures.

Test 1Forgotten competition rulesTake a test

  1. The losing semi-finalists met before the final; few fans came.

    Source: The FA, 'The FA Cup third-place play-off, 1970-74' (thefa.com) · recall

  2. Goal average divided goals scored by goals conceded.

    Source: EFL, 'From goal average to goal difference' (efl.com) · recall

  3. Drawn ties now go to extra time and penalties.

    Source: The FA, 'FA Cup replays: changes from 2024-25' (thefa.com) · recall

  4. They were dropped after Stoke and Burnley drew 0-0 in 1898 when a draw suited both.

    Source: EFL, 'Test matches, 1893-98' (efl.com) · recall

  5. Charlton kept their First Division place through them.

    Source: EFL, 'The first play-offs, 1986-87' (efl.com) · recall

  6. It is the only season the competition used two legs.

    Source: The FA, '1945-46: the two-legged FA Cup' (thefa.com) · recall

  7. United beat Watford 2-0 at Highbury.

    Source: The FA, 'The FA Cup third-place play-off, 1970-74' (thefa.com) · recall

  8. 1890s, 1945-46, 1970, 1976 and 1987.

    Source: The FA (thefa.com) and EFL (efl.com) histories of competition rules · recall

  9. 1965, 1974 and 2024.

    Source: The FA (thefa.com) and EFL (efl.com) histories of competition rules · recall

  10. Blackpool played Blackburn on Christmas Day 1965.

    Source: EFL, 'When football was played on Christmas Day' (efl.com) · recall

6.69Kicks and Moves With Names

The chilena, the Marseille turn, the Cuauhtemiña, the drag-back, the sombrero and the rainbow flick.

Test 1Named skillsTake a test

  1. Unzaga is said to have used it in Chile in 1914.

    Source: ANFP Chile, 'La chilena de Ramón Unzaga' (anfp.cl) · recall

  2. Players drag the ball with one foot, spin and drag it on with the other.

    Source: Olympique de Marseille, 'La roulette' (om.fr); FIFA · recall

  3. It is named after the forward who made it famous at the 1998 World Cup.

    Source: Mexican Football Federation, 'La Cuauhtemiña' (miseleccion.mx); FIFA 1998 World Cup reports · recall

  4. He pulled the ball back with his studs as Billy Wright slid past.

    Source: Hungarian Football Federation, 'Wembley 1953: the drag-back' (mlsz.hu); The FA · recall

  5. He spun round Nikos Dabizas and scored at St James' Park.

    Source: Arsenal FC, 'Bergkamp's goal at Newcastle, 2002' (arsenal.com) · recall

  6. The ball flies over the defender like a hat.

    Source: FIFA (fifa.com) and national federation histories of named skills · recall

  7. The player traps the ball between the feet and flicks it up with the heel.

    Source: FIFA (fifa.com) and national federation histories of named skills · recall

  8. 1914, 1953, 1998 and 2002.

    Source: FIFA (fifa.com) and national federation histories of named skills · recall

  9. The full spin carries the player away from the defender.

    Source: Olympique de Marseille, 'La roulette' (om.fr); FIFA · recall

  10. He first did it against South Korea at the 1998 World Cup.

    Source: Mexican Football Federation, 'La Cuauhtemiña' (miseleccion.mx); FIFA 1998 World Cup reports · recall

6.70Curses and Superstitions

Buried cats, gypsy curses, a kiss on the head, a pre-penalty ritual and a player who had to be last out.

Test 1Curses and superstitionsTake a test

  1. Rival fans were said to have buried seven cats after Racing's 1967 world club title; the last was found in 2001.

    Source: Racing Club, 'La maldición de los gatos' (racingclub.com.ar) · recall

  2. The curse was said to date from travellers being moved off the land in 1906.

    Source: Birmingham City, 'The gypsy curse at St Andrew's' (bcfc.com) · recall

  3. Derby then beat Charlton 4-1 to win the cup.

    Source: Derby County, 'The Baseball Ground gypsy curse and the 1946 FA Cup' (dcfc.co.uk) · recall

  4. Blanc missed the final through suspension, but the ritual was carried on.

    Source: Fédération Française de Football, '1998: le baiser de Blanc' (fff.fr) · recall

  5. He said it brought him luck; he saved four penalties in two shoot-outs.

    Source: AFA, 'Goycochea, Italia 90' (afa.com.ar) · recall

  6. William Gallas was still being treated, so Touré waited and then came on without the referee's permission.

    Source: Arsenal FC and UEFA match report, Arsenal v Roma, 2009 (uefa.com) · recall

  7. Racing dug up the pitch looking for them.

    Source: Racing Club, 'La maldición de los gatos' (racingclub.com.ar) · recall

  8. 1946, 1967, 1990, 1998 and 2009.

    Source: Club histories: dcfc.co.uk, racingclub.com.ar, bcfc.com, fff.fr, arsenal.com · recall

  9. 1966, 1967 and the 2001 Apertura.

    Source: Racing Club, 'La maldición de los gatos' (racingclub.com.ar) · recall

  10. The two clubs' grounds in Avellaneda stand only a few hundred metres apart.

    Source: Racing Club, 'La maldición de los gatos' (racingclub.com.ar) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources where they exist: FIFA (fifa.com), UEFA (uefa.com), Guinness World Records (guinnessworldrecords.com). Several older/less-documented incidents rely on multiple cross-checked non-Wikipedia accounts, since no single official archive page was found for them - flagged per question. No Wikipedia citations. Paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored.

  • The FA, 'The Big Freeze of 1962-63' (thefa.com); EFL history4
  • Barbados Football Association, '1994 Shell Caribbean Cup: Barbados v Grenada' reports; BBC Sport archive4
  • Racing Club, 'La maldición de los gatos' (racingclub.com.ar)4
  • FIFA (fifa.com) and national federation histories of named skills3
  • U.S. Soccer, 'The Snow Clasico' (ussoccer.com, 2013); CONCACAF2
  • Reading FC, 'The ghost goal against Watford, 2008' (readingfc.co.uk); BBC Sport2
  • FIFA, 2006 World Cup match report: Portugal v Netherlands, Nuremberg (inside.fifa.com)2
  • FIFA, World Cup disciplinary records (inside.fifa.com); Cameroon match reports 1994 and 19982
  • Guinness World Records, 'Most red cards in a football match' (Claypole v Victoriano Arenas, 2011)2
  • Gothia Cup, 'About the tournament' (gothiacup.se)2
  • Gothia Cup (gothiacup.se), Tourism Authority of Thailand, URA Singapore and Guinness World Records2
  • Guinness World Records, MLS and EFL records of penalty shoot-outs2
  • The FA, 'The FA Cup third-place play-off, 1970-74' (thefa.com)2
  • The FA (thefa.com) and EFL (efl.com) histories of competition rules2
  • Olympique de Marseille, 'La roulette' (om.fr); FIFA2
  • Mexican Football Federation, 'La Cuauhtemiña' (miseleccion.mx); FIFA 1998 World Cup reports2
  • Cross-checked histories of the AS Adema v SO l'Emyrne match1
  • FIFA, fifa.com/en/articles/diego-maradona-argentina-england-hand-of-god-19861
  • Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-goals-scored-by-a-goalkeeper1
  • Cross-checked reporting on Tom King's 2021 record goal1
  • UEFA, uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025d-0f782b45c942-3e20b8c30dfa-1000--miracle-of-istanbul-2005-champions-league-final-in-the-w1
  • Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/72575-fastest-goal-football-video1
  • Cross-checked histories of the Battle of Santiago1
  • Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-throw-in-(football)1
  • Cross-checked histories of fast red cards in professional football1
  • Cross-checked histories of the abandoned Sheffield United v West Bromwich Albion match1
  • Cross-checked histories of Trevor Francis's transfer1
  • Cross-checked histories of the 1950 USA v England match1
  • UEFA, uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7ad65d5ee8-a6bff388bd0f-1000--watch-panenka-s-classic-1976-final-penalty1
  • Cross-checked histories of Pat Kruse's 1977 own goal1
  • Cross-checked reporting on the Bican-Pele goals dispute1
  • Cross-checked histories of the 1970 Watney Cup shootout1
  • Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/385454-fastest-hat-trick-in-a-football-soccer-english-premier-league-match1
  • Arsenal official history, arsenal.com/history/the-wenger-years/the-2004-invincibles1
  • Cross-checked histories of 1930 World Cup attendances1
  • Cross-checked histories of Thames AFC's attendance record1
  • DFB, 'Die Wasserschlacht von Frankfurt 1974' (dfb.de); FIFA World Cup 1974 match report1
  • Football Pools, 'The Pools Panel' (footballpools.com); The FA1
  • EFL, 'The 1946-47 season' (efl.com)1
  • Charlton Athletic, 'Sam Bartram and the fog of 1937' (cafc.co.uk)1
  • Aston Villa, 'Chris Nicholl's four goals at Leicester, 1976' (avfc.co.uk)1
  • Ross County FC, 'Tommy Ross's 90-second hat-trick' (rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk); Guinness World Records1
  • Premier League, 'Shane Long's 7.69-second goal' (premierleague.com, 2019)1
  • Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DFB statements on Kießling's 'Phantomtor' (2013)1
  • BBC News, 'Referee sends himself off' (1998)1
  • Guinness World Records, 'Fastest sending-off' (Lee Todd, 2000)1
  • Chelsea FC heritage (chelseafc.com); BBC Sport, 'Fastest bookings'1
  • FIFA, 2002 World Cup match report: Sweden v Argentina (inside.fifa.com)1
  • Guinness World Records, 'Highest altitude football match' (Kilimanjaro, 2017)1
  • Singapore Sports Hub and Urban Redevelopment Authority, 'The Float @ Marina Bay' (ura.gov.sg)1
  • Valais tourism, 'Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, Gspon' (valais.ch)1
  • Faroese Football Association (fsf.fo) and Visit Faroe Islands (visitfaroeislands.com)1
  • Visit Norway, 'Henningsvær football pitch' (visitnorway.com)1
  • Tourism Authority of Thailand, 'Koh Panyee and its floating football pitch' (tourismthailand.org)1
  • Stockport County, 'The longest match: Doncaster 1946' (stockportcounty.com)1
  • The FA, 'Alvechurch v Oxford City, 1971' FA Cup records (thefa.com)1
  • CONMEBOL, 'Copa América 1999: Argentina v Colombia' (conmebol.com); Guinness World Records1
  • UEFA, 'Euro 2000 semi-final: Italy v Netherlands' (uefa.com)1
  • Liverpool FC, '2022 League Cup final shoot-out' (liverpoolfc.com); EFL1
  • Major League Soccer, 'The 35-yard shootout, 1996-99' (mlssoccer.com)1
  • CAF, 'Africa Cup of Nations 2006: Ivory Coast v Cameroon' (cafonline.com)1
  • Guinness World Records, 'Longest penalty shoot-out' (KK Palace v Civics, 2005)1
  • EFL, 'From goal average to goal difference' (efl.com)1
  • The FA, 'FA Cup replays: changes from 2024-25' (thefa.com)1
  • EFL, 'Test matches, 1893-98' (efl.com)1
  • EFL, 'The first play-offs, 1986-87' (efl.com)1
  • The FA, '1945-46: the two-legged FA Cup' (thefa.com)1
  • EFL, 'When football was played on Christmas Day' (efl.com)1
  • ANFP Chile, 'La chilena de Ramón Unzaga' (anfp.cl)1
  • Hungarian Football Federation, 'Wembley 1953: the drag-back' (mlsz.hu); The FA1
  • Arsenal FC, 'Bergkamp's goal at Newcastle, 2002' (arsenal.com)1
  • Birmingham City, 'The gypsy curse at St Andrew's' (bcfc.com)1
  • Derby County, 'The Baseball Ground gypsy curse and the 1946 FA Cup' (dcfc.co.uk)1
  • Fédération Française de Football, '1998: le baiser de Blanc' (fff.fr)1
  • AFA, 'Goycochea, Italia 90' (afa.com.ar)1
  • Arsenal FC and UEFA match report, Arsenal v Roma, 2009 (uefa.com)1
  • Club histories: dcfc.co.uk, racingclub.com.ar, bcfc.com, fff.fr, arsenal.com1