For the past few weeks, football lovers have certainly been spoiled since, due to the current health crisis which has completely disrupted the calendar of numerous championships throughout the world, there has been an increase in the number of matches currently taking place. That's why, for example, the Champions League is currently being played every week.
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The most WTF penalty kick of the season happened in Croatia
While this frequency of matches is obviously dangerous for players’ health, we must admit that it has allowed us to see quite a few matches, and some rather unusual scenes. While the Scottish second division recently proved that entrusting the overseeing of a match to an artificial intelligence was a very bad idea, it is now a Croatian second division team’s turn to provide us with a funny moment.
During a match between Croatia Zmijavci and Cibalia, in additional time Croatia Zmijavci received a penalty kick. This was a golden opportunity for the home team to tie the game at 1-1 and get at least a point from the draw. Striker Tomislav Mrkonjic then converted what is most likely the most deceitful penalty of all time.
A stroke of genius or lack of fair play?
He took his time to place the ball and perform all the well-known little rituals before taking the penalty kick. The Croatian striker then waited for the referee's whistle before taking the shot. He stood a few inches away from the ball until the very last moment, while many usually prepare to do their run-up to the ball, Mrkonjic then took the shot immediately after the whistle, to the surprise of the unprepared goalkeeper.
The goal was approved by the referee in spite of the Cibalia players’ protests. It is still too early to know if this way of taking a penalty kick will become the new norm, but this is without a doubt one of the craziest ways to take a penalty kick. As to whether this goal is legitimate or whether it is a huge lack of fair play, we will let you watch the footage and judge for yourself.
Watch the penalty kick in the video above.
