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Suspension tension! The strangest bans ever in football revealed

Sam Elliott
On the receiving end: Dean Shiels was mocked by Falkirk’s Kevin O’Hara – who has been dealt with by the SFA
On the receiving end: Dean Shiels was mocked by Falkirk’s Kevin O’Hara – who has been dealt with by the SFA

In what must be one of the more bizarre suspensions in recent memory, Falkirk are likely to be without teenager Kevin O’Hara for eight matches.

His crime? Poking fun and mocking Dunfermline’s Dean Shiels – a player who lost his right eye in childhood – during their Challenge Cup match on October 7.

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The 19-year-old will be sidelined until after Christmas for “excessive misconduct” and “verbal abuse” after making the personal comments last month.

But is O’Hara’s ban the strangest one in the game? Well, it’s got some competition.

Brain Garruto

Only in America could this happen. Only in America could you call someone born this millennium Brian. Anyway, this troublesome teenager went through a period of raising merry hell in the North Side Co-Ed Soccer League.

He was banned for two months for 15 offences. This included talking on his mobile phone during a game, refusing to wear shinpads and ignoring the referee when ordered to remove his cowboy hat. He posted the written reasons for his ban on twitter and become a banterific star.

Paul Gascoigne

No list is ever complete without Gazza. Where’s there’s trouble, the Tottenham legend isn’t far behind. But this one wasn’t his fault.

Well, it was. But it was harsh. When stuffy referee Dougie Smith dropped his red card on the pitch as Rangers played Hibs in 1995, the midfielder famously brandished it back at him. Instead of just smiling, the Grinch got his yellow card out and booked the Englishman. It was yellow number ten of the season – and Gascoigne got a one-match ban.

Paul the other one: Why did Paul Gascoigne get a ban for his action for Rangers against Hibs in 1995?
Paul the other one: Why did Paul Gascoigne get a ban for his action for Rangers against Hibs in 1995?

Ashley Vickers

It’s a Non-League game, it’s on the south coast, and it’s in December. It’s going to be cold, right? Well that didn’t stop one man, who leapt on the pitch during Havant & Waterlooville vs Dorchester dressed only in a Borat mankini.

The Sacha Baron Cohen inspired get-up didn’t have defender Ashley Vickers laughing. The pitch invader was rugby-tackled by the centre-back when stewards avoided pulling him off the pitch.

The referee wasn’t impressed and sent him off for violent conduct. It did have a happy ending, mind you. Suspended Vickers did get Christmas off!

Luis Moreno

While most on our list are funny, this one certainly wasn’t. In Colombia, Deportivo Pereira’s Luis Moreno was not having a good game. As most players take it out on a water-bottle or their opposition’s ankles, the cruel defender kicked the club’s mascot – a stunning barn owl – off the pitch when it lost its way.

Booting the bird feet into the air, it later died. Moreno was banned for two games, many think he should have been kicked out of the club for good.

Max Crocombe

Urine hot water! The Salford City goalkeeper is currently serving his ban after leaving the field of play to relieve himself.

Bradford Park Avenue don’t exactly pack them in, so he thought it was safe to have a tinkle behind his goal. But a busy fan saw him in action and grassed the goalie up to the referee. But Salford are now keeping clean sheets in his absence – and Crocombe has another wee problem on his hands!