In October last year, Gillingham striker Vadaine Oliver missed a crucial penalty in the club's League One clash against Wycombe Wanderers. It turns out defender Ryan Tafazolli might be the reason why.
In a TikTok video that has picked up over 2 million views and counting, Tafazolli claims to have worked out how to 'get into an opponent's head' before stepping up to take a penalty.
As you can see in the footage below, the 30-year-old centre-back quickly targets Gills penalty-taker Oliver after former Carlisle man Kyle Dempsey is fouled in the area by Josh Scowen.
Tafazolli begins the mind games by letting Oliver know which way he's going to slot the penalty.
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"I know you're going straight down the middle," says the defender. "Going straight down the middle, side foot."
Wycombe's number six then asks his opponent a question to try and put him off – a cheeky remark that even has the referee laughing. "You don't know where you are going, do you? I've gotten in your head."
Tafazolli even brings Gillingham forward John Akinde, who now plays for Colchester, into the conversation. "John, he's bullied you off pens," he says. "I've not seen you miss."
After a solid minute of waiting around to take the penalty, Oliver, or 'Vadz' as he is called throughout the clip, finally steps up to try and beat Wycombe goalkeeper David Stockdale.
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But the menace that is Ryan Tafazolli is still chatting away in his ear. "You ain't got this bro!" shouts the defender. "You ain't got this!"
What happens next? Well, check out the footage from Ryan's TikTok below and find out for yourself.
Vadaine Oliver missed the spot-kick and Wycombe went on to secure all three points thanks to goals from Garath McCleary and Brandon Hanlan.
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After the full-time whistle, Oliver took to social media to apologise for his lack of accuracy from 12 yards.
“I apologise," he wrote. "I let my team-mates down, staff and let you guys down. I’ll do my utmost to correct it next week.”
Tafazolli, who has over 22,000 followers on TikTok at the time of writing, has posted several videos from his performances this season, including a clip that shows what a defender says in a game. Fascinating stuff.
You can check out Ryan's channel HERE if you fancy it.
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/ryantafazolliTopics: League One
