An African football team once scored 149 own goals in one match as they protested the refereeing decisions during a championship play-off.
Former Malagasy champions SO Emryne were enraged by decision which they felt cost them the title during the four-team play-off to decide the 2002 season’s league title.
With opponents AS Adema having already been crowned champions due to Emryne drawing their penultimate match, Emryne proceeded to sabotage their match.
From kick-off, Emryne repeatedly kicked the ball into their own goal as their opponents looked on in bewilderment until the match ended with them having scored 149 own goals.
This broke Arbroath’s record of most goals scored in a senior football match, with their tally of 36 against Bon Accord having stood since 1885.
Emryne, who hail from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, had been the defending champions following their maiden league title the season before.
However, their title defence ended in disgrace as the football federation handed out strict punishments to those involved in the 149-0 loss.
Head coach Zaka Ratsarazaka was reportedly banned from football for three years, whilst four players were suspended from playing or attending matches for the rest of 2002.
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These included national team captain Mamisoa Razafindrakoto and club captain Manitranirina Andrianiaina.
At the time, federation president Jacques Benony told the press that “the sanctions have been put in place,” with the federation itself dissolved shortly after before being reconstituted.
All other players from both sides were handed a warning about their future conduct and told that more serious sanctions could be handed out for similar offences in the future.
The referee was not punished, although it was understood that he had been involved in a heated argument with Ratsarazaka.
SO Emryne have been unable to add to their 2001 league title in the two decades since their record loss and are no longer members of the Malagasy top flight.
