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
The Free-Kick So Genius It Was Banned Immediately

Home> Football

Updated 20:27 19 Feb 2022 GMTPublished 14:41 19 Feb 2022 GMT

The Free-Kick So Genius It Was Banned Immediately

It famously won Match of the Day goal of the season - then it was outlawed.

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

It won BBC Goal of the Year, but the incredible 'donkey kick' free-kick routine was banned at the end of the season.

Everton were the team on the receiving end when Coventry City, top-flight regulars back in October 1970, unleashed this unique trick. It was a pre-planned move played to perfection.

As the wall lined up, Coventry's Willie Carr - innocently standing over the ball - suddenly gripped the ball between his heels and flicked it into the air. Striker Ernie Hunt swung back a boot and absolutely smashed a volley right into the net. Sublime.

"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. So this goal is one we're unlikely to see Harry Kane and Son Heung-min pull off in 2020, while Jose Mourinho gives it large on the touchline.

Coventry went on to win the match 3-1, with 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 Le Tiss 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'. Might be an idea just so we can all stop talking about the handball law for 15 minutes.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Football

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.

X

@otheralexreid

Recommended reads

Ranking 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 reachedGettyBarry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGetty

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
7 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Liverpool express major worry over £80m summer target that fans are desperate for

    There are ‘question marks’ around the midfielder.

    Football
  • CBS Sports
    7 hours ago

    Thierry Henry walks off CBS set after Jamie Carragher tells Peter Schmeichel to 'leave it'

    Henry walked off during a disagreement between Carragher and Schmeichel.

    Football
  • Getty
    7 hours ago

    QUIZ: Can you name every Champions League winner?

    As the Champions League final approaches, we're challenging you to name every team to win the historic competition.

    Football
  • Getty
    10 hours ago

    Liverpool prepared to complete outrageous swap deal with Real Madrid after PSG defeat

    Arne Slot's side fell to a 2-0 defeat in Paris on Wednesday.

    Football