The strangest matches in the history of world football
Football – the game of millions. And it’s not just millions who step onto the pitch, but those who shape it – the supporters, the die-hard fans, those who love it for its power, the speed of its attacks, the emotional intensity, and its unpredictability – which at times borders on madness.
Here’s our selection of the strangest, most chaotic, and utterly unforgettable matches in the history of football!
The photo is from imotion_com
Which goal are we attacking again?
The year was 1994. The Caribbean Cup. At the time, FIFA had introduced the golden goal rule – meaning that a goal scored in extra time would count as two.
In the decisive match of Group A, Barbados faced Grenada. To progress from the group, Barbados had to win by a margin of at least two goals. Grenada, meanwhile, could afford to lose – but only by a single-goal difference.
The photo is from Skillbox
With five minutes left on the clock, Barbados were leading 2–1 — but that wasn’t enough. They needed a two-goal margin to go through. So, in an extraordinary twist, the Barbados players deliberately scored an own goal to level the match at 2–2 and force extra time — where they could take advantage of the golden goal rule.
With the scoreline even, chaos truly erupted. Grenada, realising the situation, now tried to score… in their own net! Barbados, in response, began defending both goals — theirs and Grenada’s — in a bizarre tactical stand-off. The pitch turned into a theatre of madness. Eventually, the whistle blew — full time was up. In extra time, Barbados scored the golden goal, which under the rules counted as two, giving them the required margin and sending them through to the next round.
Soon after, the golden goal rule was quietly scrapped.
The photo is from Football24_ru
A foggy affair in Albion
London’s legendary fog — as iconic as Big Ben or the Tower of London — once played a starring role in one of football’s most surreal encounters. The year was 1937. Charlton were playing Chelsea. As the match got underway, a thick blanket of fog descended over the pitch. Within moments, visibility had dropped to almost nothing — no players could be seen, the ball was invisible, and the lines on the pitch had vanished.
The referee was left with no choice but to abandon the match. Players and fans alike exited the ground, left wondering what had just happened in the swirling mist.
The photo is from Football24_ru
But one man never left the pitch. Charlton’s goalkeeper, Sam Bartram, remained rooted to his goal line. Because of the thick fog, he hadn’t heard the referee’s whistle — and continued to stand in position, eyes straining through the white haze, fully focused and ready for the next attack.
He was even optimistic, thinking: “If I’m not seeing any action, that must mean we’re dominating up front!”
Fifteen minutes later, a policeman finally emerged out of the fog and approached him.
— “Oi, lad, what are you doing here? The match was called off a quarter of an hour ago — the stadium’s empty!”
Sam would later often recall that scene with a smile. Now that’s what you call dedication to the game.
149–0 – a record-breaking protest
The year was 2002, and the final stage of the Malagasy national championship was taking place in the city of Toamasina. Four of the country’s top clubs were battling it out for the title.
In one of the decisive matches, Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne (SOE) were awarded a controversial penalty against them in the dying seconds — a decision that ultimately cost them their shot at the title. Appeals and protests fell on deaf ears.
So, in their next fixture against AS Adema — who had already been crowned champions — SOE decided to protest in the most extreme way imaginable. Under instructions from their coach, the players began… deliberately scoring own goals. One after another. Without pause. The opponents simply stood back and watched in disbelief.
The photo is from sports_ru
The final score was beyond belief: 149–0.
The national football federation responded swiftly and harshly. The SOE coach was banned for three years, while both the captain and the goalkeeper received suspensions from official matches. But the scoreline entered the record books — officially recognised as the highest ever recorded in a professional football match. It even earned a place in the Guinness World Records.
A draw, anyone?
22 June 2004. The UEFA European Championship. Final round of the group stage. Sweden, Denmark, and Italy were all in the race for a place in the knockout rounds.
Before kick-off: Sweden and Denmark each had 4 points, while Italy were trailing with 2. The maths was tricky — but crucial. If Italy won their match, and Sweden and Denmark drew 2–2 or higher, the two Scandinavian squads would go through — thanks to scoring more goals. A 0–0 or 1–1 draw, however, would leave all three teams level on points and goal difference, meaning Italy would still have a chance depending on tiebreakers.
The photo is from sports_ru
And so it happened. The Sweden vs Denmark match “suddenly” ended in a 2–2 draw. Exactly the result both sides needed. Italy were eliminated. Coincidence? Or cold, calculated football strategy? At this point, it no longer mattered. The match became a symbol of football mathematics — and sparked heated debates across the footballing world.
Such are the oddities, paradoxes, and surprises of the great game we call FOOTBALL!
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