Unforgettable: Madagascar football champions suffered defeat with 0 minutes and 149 seconds

memorable

October 31, 2002: In protest against the referee's performance in the previous game, SOE Antananarivo scored 149 own goals against AS Adema. The result is considered the worst football defeat to date.

After the qualifiers of the Madagascar Top Football League, the four best teams in the standings will play in the final round. Everyone plays everyone twice (away and home). After six games, the top-ranked team becomes the champion.

In 2002, AS Adema, Domoina Soavina Atsimondrano, SOE Antananarivo and Union Sportive Ambohidratrimo qualified for the Grand Showdown. In the first four games, the defending champion SOE Antananarivo disappointingly only achieved 1 win, 2 draws and 1 loss, and only scored 5 points.

On the other hand, archrival Adema has accumulated 10 points (3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss) after playing one more game. Therefore, SOE Antananarivo must win the penultimate match against Domoina Soavina Atsimmondrano in order to win again in the final match and a direct match against AS Adema to defend the title.

Questionable penalties as triggers

Shortly before the end of the game, with the capital club still leading 2-1, the referee made a controversial decision. Domoina did not miss the opportunity and scored a penalty kick, making the final score 2-2. AS Adema has been confirmed as the new champion ahead of a head-to-head matchup with SOE Antananarivo.

For current champion SOE Antananarivo, the frustration runs deep and the anger towards the referees knows no bounds. Soon after, amid this tense situation, the final championship match pitted the defending champion against the newly minted champion. Shortly before the game, SOE coach Zakabe had a heated argument with the referee. Perhaps this is also the trigger for the weird scenes that occur later in the game.

When the referee blew the whistle to start the game, SOE Antananarivo players immediately shot the ball back into their own goal after each kickoff. AS Adema players reportedly enjoyed watching the game but took no action. As the players pushed this crazy game to the end, the incredible number 149 appeared on the final scoreboard. On average, there is an own goal every less than 40 seconds. Some spectators left the stadium early and went to the ticket office to ask for refunds.

The (crazy) final table of the Madagascar tournament.Screenshot: worldsfootball.com

biggest victory in football

Following the scandal, the Madagascar Football Federation slapped the SOE coach with a three-year professional ban and a national stadium ban. Goalkeeper and captain Mamisoa Razafindrakoto (the national goalkeeper at the time) as well as field players Nicolas Rakotoarimanana and Dominique Rakotonandrasana were suspended until the end of the season and banned from all competitions. On the other hand, the remaining people who refused to work “only” received a warning.

Unfortunately, there are no images or video footage of this legendary game. But 149-0 is still the highest victory in football history. This record may stand for a long time.

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