A previous version of this article stated that Eric Cantona was sent off for his infamous kung-fu kick – he was in fact sent off prior to the incident.
A new contender is in contention for the title “most outrageous red card” in football history.
Eden Hazard got into trouble for kickin’ a ball boy in the famous Eden Hazard incident Chelsea’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Swansea CityJean Fernandes from Cerro Porteno was kicked off in the 2021 Paraguay Super Cup final, making a slap-to-Olimpia fans.
Compared to those incidents, Connor Maseko’s red card in Blackfield and Langley’s FA CupThe first round qualifying match against Shepton Mallet was lighthearted but equally bizarre.
Langley and Blackfield are part of the Wessex Football League Premier Division. This is the ninth tier in English football. They lost their opening match 7-1 to Bemerton Heath Harlequins, and then were beaten in the next two league fixtures.
The chance for Shepton Mallet and Shepton Mallet to win in a cup competition, which is at the same level as the Western Football League Premier Division Premier Division, should have given them a chance of regaining some confidence.
The score was still 0-0 going into the final 15 minutes. Maseko couldn’t ignore the urge to use the bathroom and ran 20 yards from the goal into a wooded area.
“I needed to go for most of the game!” he tells The Athletic. “I forgot to go at half-time because I was so involved with the team talk and I didn’t want to step away.
