Cardiff's Sol Bamba managed to avoid a yellow card for the manner in which he celebrated his last minute winner by convincing the referee he didn't take his shirt off.
The 33-year old popped up in stoppage time to seal victory over 10-man Brighton and could not help but fling his shirt off and celebrate passionately with the home fans.
Given the rules say Bamba was guilty of "excessive celebration", he technically should have received a yellow card. But the former Leicester City defender lied to the referee, Martin Atkinson, and got let off the hook.
"The ref asked if I took my shirt off and I said 'no'," Bamba revealed after the game.
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Of course Bamba definitely did take off his shirt but his brilliant bluffing led to him avoiding punishment, with even the linesman seemingly not seeing it.
Sol Bamba wasn't shown a yellow card after removing his shirt during the celebration of his last-minute winner. And when the ref asked him if he did...
Some say its just football... other score 93mn winners 😍😍😍 #PASSION @cardiffcityfc 💙
Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock gave his thoughts on the situation after the game.
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"I don't think Martin [Atkinson] will have done that on purpose, if he didn't see it that is what linesmen are for isn't it?" he said, as per BBC.
"I did mention to the referee when he warned us before the game about taking your shirt off that I hoped three of my lads got booked for taking off their shirts today, because we don't score too many goals, do we?"
Atkinson's failure to book the Ivory Coast defender could land him in tribute, while it's also brought about plenty of debate after Demarai Gray was shown a yellow for his emotional tribute to the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
@GaryLineker Sol Bamba scores last minute winner today, takes shirt off & runs into the crown! Doesn’t get booked! Same stadium seven days ago! Gray does for this! The game is gone! 🤬🤬🤬
Did the referee just book Demarai Gray for taking his shirt off? I get rules are rules, but have some heart ref
Demarai Gray getting booked for taking his shirt off to reveal another T-Shirt that said 'For Khun Vichai' is absolutely horrendous. Sometimes the importance of context overrides the rules. It's sport at the end of the day.
Rules are rules at the end of the day but it's almost admirable how Bamba was able to con the official today. I wouldn't want to play poker against him...
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