If this isn’t a red card, then what is?
A goalkeeper in the Ethiopian Premier League somehow managed to avoid a red card, despite acrobatically kicking out at an opponent.
In a match between Saint George FC and Bahir Dar Kenema FC – which appears to have taken place last month – the away side’s goalkeeper, Harriston Hessou, attempted to gather the ball, but ended up spilling it as he rushed off his goal line.
Hessou patted it into the ground, which led to the ball bouncing into the air. Although he could’ve just regained control of it, he actually proceeded to launch a stunning forward somersault in the air.
Understandably, the opposition attacker was not expecting the shot-stopper to laugh himself at him, and was therefore caught off guard by the situation.
The Saint George player was caught by both studs and theatrically fell to the ground, before the referee quickly pointed to the spot. However, Hessou remarkably escaped any punishment and was not sent off for the savage double-kick combo.
Wish I could explain what the goalkeeper was thinking here, I really do pic.twitter.com/LwVdePDUSI
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) July 8, 2022
To make things worse, the striker actually went on to miss the resulting penalty by dragging his effort wide of the goal, with Saint George going on to be crowned league champions at the end of the campaign.
How did social media react?
One Twitter user wrote: “When you play FIFA on the Xbox and you don’t know what any of the buttons do!!”
When you play FIFA on the Xbox and you don't know what any of the buttons do!!
— David Bryson (@DavidBryson1985) July 8, 2022
Another added: “Ball dont lie, good move by GK.”
Ball dont lie, good move by GK.
— A10 (@Ash10Shoe) July 8, 2022
A third noted: “No issues with this. He was only protecting himself…”
@Urban_Ciaran no issues with this. He was only protecting himself…
— Eamonn Breen (@EamonnBreen13) July 8, 2022
Another said: “Guy clearly watched Mean Machine and the Mad Monk.”
Guy clearly watched Mean Machine and the Mad Monk.
— SJack (@sjack0784) July 8, 2022
A fifth replied: “As a goalkeeper I love this.”
As a goalkeeper I love this.
— peter (@peter36480774) July 8, 2022
Another stated: “He has 99 on his back. All the explanation you need.”
He has 99 on his back. All the explanation you need.
— Luke Bright (@LL_Breezy) July 8, 2022
The incident involving Hessou is not the first bizarre goalkeeping moment to come out of the Ethiopian Premier League in recent years. In 2018, a goalkeeper for top-flight side Welwalo Adigrat went viral after a throwing the ball into his own net in a match against Fasil Kenema.
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