Ross McCormack struggles with gate – and 10 of the other worst excuses used in sport

Aston Villa forward Ross McCormack upset manager Steve Bruce last week after failing to make training because he could not escape from his gated-mansion, but why? He could not open the electric gates, obviously. Telegraph Sport recalls 10 other ludicrous excuses sports men and women  have used over the years ... 

New balls, please ...

During last year’s Miami Open, the Scot noticed that he had been serving, and losing points, with balls usually reserved for the women’s game. “The women's balls are very different to the men's balls,” he commented after winning the match against Denis Istomin. “They're much quicker, smaller, livelier.”

United’s title hopes almost fade to grey

Perhaps one of the most infamous excuse-centred debacles involves Manchester United’s ill-fated grey kit during the 1995/96 season. Manager Alex Ferguson complained that players could not pick each other out, leading to the eventual champions losing four out of five games played in grey shirts, with the most famous incident coming at the Dell when trailing 3-0 to Southampton at half time the United team came out for the second half in the club's third, non-grey, kit.

Air-conditioning blows away Wei's badminton hopes

During the 2013 World Badminton Championships, world No 1 Lee Chong Wei suffered a leg cramp that caused him to concede the final to the Chinese star Lin Dan. Malaysia’s coach ended up blaming Lee’s cramps on the air-conditioning in the venue being turned off.

Domenech the stargazer who fell to earth

Despite Robert Pirès playing regular first-team football in 2006, Raymond Domenech, the France manager, chose not to select the Arsenal midfielder because of his star sign. Pirès's Scorpio birth-sign was not the only one under threat, with Domenech warning Leos not to get too cocky.

Hamblin stays fresh

Though later found to have been due to equipment error, Australian jockey Paul Hamblin was suspended for failing a breathalyser test. Hamblin blamed the mouthwash he used before taking the test.

Finn stunned by size of task

During the Athens Olympics in 2004, Paula Huhtaniemi, a Finnish javelin thrower, produced the most astounding excuse as to why she did not perform well: “The big stadium surprised me. I could not direct the javelin right," she said. Thankfully no one was hurt.

Ukraine drowned out by frog chorus

When Ukraine got heavily beaten by a magnificent Spain side at the 2006 World Cup, Ukraine got creative with their excuse. They cited frogs croaking outside of their idyllic hotel as the reason for their poor play, prompting German newspapers to call it, “The worst World Cup excuse of all time”.

Oklahoma’s haunted hotel 

After suffering a heavy defeat to Oklahoma City Thunder, the New York Knicks accused the Skirvin Hilton hotel they were staying in of being haunted. The ghost is apparently affectionately known as “Effie the Housekeeper”, what could possibly have scared them?

Casillas scores own-goal, of sorts

The Spain team are not exempt from embarrassing excuses however. During a 1-0 loss to minnows Switzerland, Iker Casillas’s girlfriend, news reporter Sara Carbonero, was accused of distracting the goalkeeper for the crucial goal.

Cardenal's eye stuck wide open

Strange excuses are not just a modern phenomenon. In 1974 Jose Cardenal, a Cuban batsman for the Chicago Cubs, missed the opening game of the season. When asked why he chose to sit out, Cardenal claimed he had slept in a funny position and that his eyelid was “stuck” open.