The Most Bizarre Football Matches in History

Football, like any other sport, has seen its fair share of strange occurrences over the years. From lightning bolts striking players to referees being drunk on the pitch, here are some of the weirdest football matches that have taken place:

Kuwait vs France (1982)

During the group stages of the 1982 World Cup, the odds were stacked against Kuwait, who were appearing in their first and only World Cup. In their second tournament match against France, things took a bizarre turn when Kuwait’s defenders stopped playing after hearing what they thought was the referee’s whistle. Despite their complaints, referee Miroslav Stupar refused to disallow the goal, which increased the odds against Kuwait.

The situation got even more surreal when the President of the Kuwaiti FA entered the pitch and demanded the goal be disallowed. Eventually, the goal was disallowed, but France still won 4-1. Prince Fahid was fined for his actions, and Miroslav Stupar was banned from refereeing. In their next game, Kuwait faced off against England, but they were once again beaten, this time 1-0, making their odds of advancing in the tournament slimmer.

Despite the odds, they managed to leave their mark on the competition and managed to strike awe not only on the pitch but also on legal online gambling sites, where fans are usually provided wih odds and predictions on how the match will end. They all ended up with a moment of sheer disbelief, and those who wagered against the odds made a life changing decision that made them a lot richer than they would have been if they wagered in favor of the favourites. The incident remains to be one of the most bizarre moments in football history, with the odds stacked against Kuwait from the start. 

Bena Tshadi vs Basanga (1998)

During a match between Bena Tshadi and Basanga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a fork lightning bolt reportedly struck the pitch and killed all eleven Bena Tshadi players instantly. Another 30 people had to be treated for burn injuries. Locals accused witchcraft and a curse being responsible for the deaths, but the incident has not been officially confirmed or denied. The alleged incident occurred during a match in the eastern province of Kasai. According to reports, Bena Tshadi was leading the match 1-0 when the incident happened. The lightning bolt reportedly struck the pitch during a heavy thunderstorm, and all eleven Bena Tshadi players fell to the ground, motionless. It was a horrifying and surreal sight for the spectators and the opposing team, Basanga.

The incident shocked the football community and the world at large. Many people couldn’t believe what had happened and questioned the possibility of a single lightning bolt killing all eleven players instantly. Some locals attributed the incident to witchcraft or a curse placed on the Bena Tshadi team, while others believed it was just a freak natural occurrence. However, the cause of the incident was never officially confirmed or denied, leaving the event shrouded in mystery.

The incident also raised concerns about the safety of players and spectators during football matches. Lightning strikes are a rare but dangerous phenomenon that can occur during thunderstorms. It’s essential to have proper safety measures in place to prevent such incidents from happening again. It’s unclear what safety measures were in place during the match between Bena Tshadi and Basanga, but the tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in football and all sporting events.

Vitebsk vs Naftan (2008)

Sergei Shmolik was a top international referee, but his career came to an end after a bizarre incident in July 2008. He was refereeing a Belarusian Premier League game between Vitebsk and Naftan when he started acting peculiarly. As the game approached the end, Shmolik was barely moving and had officiated most of the second half from the center circle. After the game finished in a 1-1 draw, he was escorted off the pitch and found to have a high blood-alcohol level. He was banned from refereeing for life.

Arsenal vs Dynamo Moscow (1945)

A friendly match between Arsenal and Dynamo Moscow in 1945 at White Hart Lane has gone down in history as one of the most bizarre matches ever played. With thick fog causing vision impairment, the players requested the game be abandoned. The referee, however, insisted the game go on. Both sides flouted the rules and did whatever they wanted to get the desired result. The game finished with Dynamo Moscow winning 4-3.

Lincoln vs Coventry (1963)

On 6 March 1963, Jimmy Whitehouse scored after just 15 seconds as he set Coventry on the way to a brilliant 5-1 victory at Lincoln City. However, this was an FA Cup third-round match that was originally scheduled to be played on 5 January. Heavy snow had caused the match to be postponed twice. When the game was eventually played, it was on a pitch covered in snow and a sheet of solid ice.

Barbados vs Grenada (1994)

Barbados needed to win by two goals against Grenada to advance to the next round of the Caribbean Cup. However, the organizers had introduced a new rule that stated in the event of a tie, the team with the most goals would be declared the winner. Barbados found themselves leading 2-1 with just a few minutes left. They realized that if they scored their own goal, they would then have the chance to score the winning goal in extra time. After a period of confusion, they eventually succeeded in doing just that and won 4-2.

Liverpool vs Al-Ahly (2005)

The final of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005 between Liverpool and Al-Ahly of Egypt was supposed to be a routine match, but it turned out to be one of the weirdest games ever.

The game had to be stopped on several occasions due to Al-Ahly players repeatedly feigning injuries. This led to accusations that they were doing so deliberately in order to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm and momentum.

Al-Ahly was also given a controversial penalty which led to Liverpool players refusing to touch the ball for several minutes in protest. The game eventually finished 3-0 to Liverpool, but it will always be remembered for the bizarre antics of the Al-Ahly players.

Feyenoord vs PSV Eindhoven (1974)

During the Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven in 1974, a swarm of bees descended upon the pitch, causing chaos for players and officials.

The game had to be stopped for around 20 minutes as players tried to avoid the bees and ground staff attempted to remove them from the pitch. Despite the delay, the game eventually resumed and finished in a 2-2 draw.

Maccabi Haifa vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (2000)

The Israeli Premier League match between Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2000 was marred by an unusual incident involving a stray dog.

The dog entered the pitch during the match and refused to leave, causing a delay of several minutes. Attempts to remove the dog were unsuccessful, and eventually, players from both teams had to chase the dog off the pitch themselves.

The game eventually resumed and finished in a 2-2 draw, but it will always be remembered for the bizarre appearance of the stray dog.

Derby County vs Manchester United (1997)

During a Premier League match between Derby County and Manchester United in 1997, a large beach ball found its way onto the pitch, causing confusion and disruption for players and officials.

The ball was eventually removed from the pitch, but the incident sparked a debate about whether such objects should be allowed into stadiums in the first place. The game finished in a 2-2 draw, but it will always be remembered for the strange appearance of the beach ball.

In Summary

The world of football has produced some truly bizarre matches throughout its history. From matches that ended with a 149-0 scoreline to those played on an uneven pitch, and even ones interrupted by a volcanic eruption, the sport has seen it all. These matches are a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of football, and they remind us that anything can happen on the pitch. As fans continue to tune in to watch their favorite teams compete, we can only wonder what other strange and unusual matches the future will bring.