When football and handball COLLIDED
This incident took place in 1959 at the municipal stadium in the German city of Gelsenkirchen. Due to a mistake made by the stadium officials, two matches were unintentionally scheduled to be played simultaneously on the same day: one football match and one handball match. The players found themselves in a dilemma, unable to decide which game to proceed with. As a result, a remarkable and chaotic situation unfolded where all four teams from two different sports played their respective matches at the same time. The stadium atmosphere was filled with excitement and confusion as nearly 40 individuals, jostling and competing for two different balls, created a unique spectacle. Despite the challenging circumstances, both matches concluded successfully – the handball match ended with a score of 14-2, while the football match ended with a score of 4-2. Although the losing handball team disputed the match due to its championship status, the spectators were thoroughly entertained, as such a rare and extraordinary display of simultaneous sports competitions is not witnessed every day.
Leicester City’s lonely goalkeeper awaits the ball
In an English league match between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest, a fierce snowstorm unfolded. As time went on, the snowfall intensified, causing visibility to worsen. At the start of the second half, the referee halted the game, and both teams sought refuge from the inclement weather in their respective dressing rooms. Minutes passed by—5, 10, 15—and to their surprise, the Leicester players noticed that their goalkeeper was missing from the room. They eventually found him sitting alone at his goalpost, eagerly waiting for the ball to emerge from the fog…
The Toothless Referee
In a spring match in the small Danish town of Nørre Aggersund, a dramatic incident unfolded during a game between the local team and Ebeltoft. With the score delicately poised at 4-3 in favor of Nørre Aggersund, the referee, Henning Eriksstrup, lost his dental prosthesis, rendering him unable to blow the final whistle. Seizing the opportunity, Ebeltoft launched a successful attack and equalized, only for the referee to eventually regain his dentures and disallow the goal. Despite Ebeltoft’s protests and subsequent complaint, the Danish Football Association upheld Nørre Aggersund’s victory. Thus, a toothless referee inadvertently influenced the outcome of the match, leaving a lasting controversy in the annals of Danish football.
