sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Incredible 'donkey free-kick' routine was so genius it got banned immediately by football authorities

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 17:53 4 Oct 2024 GMT+1Published 17:44 4 Oct 2024 GMT+1

Incredible 'donkey free-kick' routine was so genius it got banned immediately by football authorities

A stunning piece of ingenuity.

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

An incredible piece of football ingenuity was banned 54 years ago after it resulted in a one of the most unique goals in the history of the sport.

The 'donkey' free-kick routine claimed the BBC's Goal of the Year award in 1970 but was subsequently outlawed at the end of the season.

Everton were the unlucky team on the receiving end that year when Coventry City, top-flight regulars at the time, unleashed the routine in a First Division match at Highfield Road.

As the Toffees wall lined up to defend a free-kick, Coventry's Willie Carr suddenly gripped the ball between his heels and flicked it high into the air.

Advert

Striker Ernie Hunt then swung back a boot and smashed a volley past the bewildered Everton goalkeeper. Check it out below.

"An original piece of football impudence," acclaimed John Motson on Match of the Day.

Everton were certainly caught completely unawares by the routine, as they waited for a traditional dead-ball strike.

However, football authorities banned the so-called 'donkey-kick' as a means of taking a free-kick at the end of the season.

Coventry went on to win the match 3-1, with the late Hunt (who died in 2018) netting a brace. Yet we'd never see another goal like this again.

Unfair? Well, Mexico's Cuauhtemoc Blanco got away with his 'bunny hop' - leaping over tackles with the ball wedged between his feet - for years.

But that wasn't from a free-kick and he didn't have Hunt thundering in behind him.

The closest we'll probably see in the Premier League era is something like Matt Le Tissier's flick-up free-kick, which also resulted in a volleyed finish but with the former Southampton man providing the set-up himself.

No, it looks like Carr and Hunt's routine will go unmatched, unless the FA or FIFA relax the rules on the 'donkey kick'.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Everton, Premier League

Alex Reid
Alex Reid

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

Recommended reads

Dennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

20 mins ago
28 mins ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Getty
    20 mins ago

    FIFA make drastic World Cup decision as statement issued

    World football's governing body has issued a statement.

    Football
  • BBC
    28 mins ago

    Man who's been to over 2,000 football grounds was 'rushed out' of most unusual match he's watched

    Football broadcaster and commentator Tony Incenzo has attended 2,695 English football grounds.

    Football
  • Getty
    7 hours ago

    Man Utd send scouts to watch superstar who will transform their attack

    Manchester United are keeping tabs on the star and could get him for a dirt-cheap fee in the summer window.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Shocking moment goalkeeper punches player in the face after red card

    After being sent off, Esteban Andrada proceeded to drop an opponent with a brutal right hook and is facing a huge ban.

    Football
  • Man Utd set to 're-open' talks with world-class manager after first target 'rejects offer' to replace Erik ten Hag
  • Fan notices genius tactic for Lionel Messi’s free kick, the keeper didn’t stand a chance
  • The Free-Kick So Genius It Was Banned Immediately