10 Craziest On Pitch Moments From World Class Footballers

3. Paulo Di Canio Pushing Over A Referee

Di Canio is infamous for an incident on the pitch in September 1998, when he pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being sent off while playing for Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal at Hillsborough. Alcock's hilarious tumble resulted in an extended ban of 11 matches and Di Canio being fined £10,000. He left the Owls just three months later, signing for West Ham United for a reported £1.5 million and saying that he had "made a mistake" and was "sorry" for the incident. The Italian repaired his tarnished reputation a few years later by choosing to catch the ball rather than shoot, as Everton goalkeeper, Paul Gerrard lay on the floor injured. He was subsequently awarded the Fifa Fair Play award for his actions and football's ruling body described the gesture as a "special act of good sportsmanship".