Five of the greatest Fair Play moments in football

Sport360 staff 15:09 11/05/2015
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  • FIFA Fair Play award winner: Oliver Kahn.

    From catching the ball to denouncing a penalty, Sport360 selects five of the best examples of fair play in football over the years. 

    PAOLO DI CANIO (West Ham vs Everton, 2000)

    With West Ham pressing the Everton goal, goalkeeper Paul Gerrard came out to the left edge of his box to make a clearance but twisted his knee and stayed down in pain trying to reach the ball. It rolled to an opposing player who crossed the ball back to the centre of the 18-yard box where Paolo Di Canio was waiting. 

    However, rather than tapping the ball into a totally open goal, the usually fiery Italian forward caught the ball in both hands and gestured towards the injured keeper so that Gerrard could receive proper treatment. 

    The referee halted the game and the action was applauded by both sets of supporters, players, and eventually the global football community as Di Canio was handed a FIFA Fair Play award. 

    MIROSLAV KLOSE (Lazio vs Napoli, 2012)

    Miroslav Klose shocked the footballing world when he admitted to the referee that he had used his hand to push the ball into the back of net as Lazio visited Napoli in September 2012. 

    After the Germany striker's admission, the match official retracted his decision to award Lazio a goal and instead the game restarted with a Napoli free-kick. Klose's team ended up losing the game 3-0 but the forward won many admirers for his honesty. 

    ROBBIE FOWLER (Liverpool vs Arsenal, 1997)

    Robbie Fowler was a renowned penalty king. However, when Liverpool ravelled to Arsenal in 1997 for a Monday night game and Fowler was brought down by David Seaman when clean through on goal, the Liverpool hero said 'no' to the referee's decision to award a penalty.

    Fowler jumped up and waved his finger at the official, imploring him not to award the spot kick as Seaman hadn't touched him.

    The ref was having it none of it, though, and Fowler was even forced to step up and take a penalty. His weak shot was comfortably saved by Seaman, leading many to assume he had missed on purpose – but his apparent act of kindness did not hold as Reds defender Jason McAteer had no problem slamming in the rebound.

    AJAX (Ajax Reserves vs Cambuur, 2005)

    A young Jan Vertonghen, now of Tottenham and Belgium, tried to play the ball back to the opposition after a stoppage but his attempted backpass flew over the goalkeeper and into the net to put his side 3-0 up.

    As a result of this, Ajax allowed Cambuur to score a goal of their own. The game finished 3-1.

    OLIVER KAHN (Bayern Munich vs Valencia, 2001)

    In claiming the 2001 Champions League trophy, Bayern Munich’s players were naturally jubilant after beatig Valencia in a tense penalty shootout.

    But rather than celebrating with his team-mates, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's first act was to immediately console his distraught opposite number Santiago Canizares. 

    The big German had a reputation as an uncompromising, tough nut during his career but his moment of sympathy earned him a FIFA Fair Play award to sit proudly alongside his impressive collection of silverware.

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