Record football match (Edition #8)

It’s already our 8th edition of the Today I Learned Football newsletter. I’m proud of already 7 posts made. I truly hope you liked it so far. Let’s move on forward!

In today’s newsletter, I would love to get back to one of the Thursdays (today is one, right). This one happened in 2002, on October 31st. Why it’s so special? Let’s find that out!

AS Adema vs SO l'Emyrne

More than 20 years ago, a record match happened between two Madagascar teams - AS Adema and SO l'Emyrne (SOE).

The game was one of four in a round-robin play-off to decide the national championship. Adema won the league title because SOE, who were the champions from the previous year, could only manage a 2-2 draw against DSA Antananarivo in their second-to-last game.

During that match, the referee gave SO l'Emyrne a penalty that was argued and disputed by DSA Antananarivo, which ultimately led to the game ending in a tie. That draw meant that SO l'Emyrne sadly was knocked out of the title race. The coach and the team called the referring biased.

So why this game is so special you may ask? Well, the game was not between two rival penguin teams for sure. And bad referring happens from time to time. But…

After 90 minutes passed, the scoreboard was showing an insane result- 149:0. Yes, you’re seeing the numbers right. One hundred forty-nine vs zero.

But that score was not the result of an amazing AS Adema offense. All the goals were scored by the SO l'Emyrne team itself. It was a protest against bad referring.

Each time, after kick-off, the ball was kicked into their own goal with the opposition players just standing and doing nothing. And of course, the referee couldn’t do anything as well.

The consequences

After such a game, the spectators demanded a refund, they didn’t like what they have witnessed at all. Would be you?

Moreover, the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF) suspended the coach (Zaka Ratsarazaka) of SO l'Emyrne for three years. Four players faced a suspension till the end of the season.

This game is recognized by The Guinness Book of Records and to this day holds the title of the highest scoreline in any football match.

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