football facts

1. 20 red cards were shown during a 1993 match between Sportivo Ameliano and General Caballero in Paraguay.

2. Ivory Coast’s ASEC Abidjan went undefeated for 108 games between 1989 and 1994.

3. Carlos Caszely of Chile was the first player to receive a red card in a World Cup tournament on June 14, 1974.

4. European teams have reached the final of every World Cup except 1930 and 1950.

5. Goalkeeper Arthur Wharton was the first black professional footballer. He was born in Ghana (then the Gold Coast) and played for the English league team Rotherham United in 1889.

6. In 1950, India withdrew from the World Cup because FIFA refused to let their team play barefoot.

7. In 1954, Turkey eliminated Spain during a World Cup qualifier by draw. The blindfolded Italian boy, Luigi Franco Gemma, chose the straws to decide the winner.

8. In 1957, with just 30 minutes remaining, Charlton Athletic came from behind from a 5-1 deficit to defeat Huddersfield Town 7-6.

9. In 1968, Uruguay’s Peñarol conceded just five goals in 18 games en route to an undefeated season.

10. In 1996 George Weah paid for his teammates’ uniforms and expenses so that Liberia could enter the African Cup of Nations.

11. In 1997, Nigerian international Celestine Babayaro broke his leg while celebrating a goal on his Chelsea debut during a pre-season match.

12. In 1998, English referee Martin Sylvester was sent off after hitting a player during a match in the Andover and District Sunday League.

13. In 1999, Leganés coach Enrique Martín received a ten-game ban for running over an opposing player who cleared the goal.

14. In the 1938 World Cup semi-final, Italy’s Giuseppe Meazza’s shorts fell off when he was taking a penalty. He lifted his shorts and calmly scored past Brazil’s Valter.

15. In the 1970s, legendary managers Jock Stein and Brian Clough spent 44 days at Leeds United.

16. Jean Langenus of Belgium wore a suit jacket, golf pants, and a red-striped tie when he refereed the 1930 World Cup final.

17. Luigi Riva once broke a spectator’s arm with one of his powerful shots.

18. Madagascar’s Stade Olympique L’Emryne scored 149 own goals against champions AS Adema in 2002. In their previous match, they repeatedly scored own goals in protest of a referee’s decision.

19. Michael Laudrup appeared for Real Madrid in the 5-0 win over Barcelona and also for Barcelona when they beat Real Madrid 5-0.

20. Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp’s fear of flying caused him to miss many international and European matches with Arsenal.

21. Sir Alex Ferguson was sacked from St. Mirren in 1978 for dressing a lady.

22. Sir Stanley Matthews never received a reservation in his 33-year career.

23. Under Herbert Chapman, Arsenal changed its name to simply Arsenal to appear at the top of the alphabetical list of former First Division clubs.