AS Adema defeated SO de l’Emyrne 149-0
On this day 23 years ago, world football witnessed one of the most extraordinary scorelines ever recorded, AS Adema defeated SO de l’Emyrne 149-0.
It wasn’t a display of dominance or attacking brilliance, but a full-scale protest that turned a domestic Malagasy league game into global football folklore.
The incredible match took place on October 31, 2002, during the final round of Madagascar’s national championship playoff in the city of Toamasina.
SO de l’Emyrne (SOE), the reigning champions at the time, had already lost their title hopes due to what they believed were biased refereeing decisions in a previous game against DSA Antananarivo.
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Frustrated and feeling cheated, the players decided to make their anger known, in the most dramatic way possible.
From the opening whistle, SOE players began deliberately scoring own goals, one after another, for the full 90 minutes.
Their opponents, AS Adema, stood stunned as the ball repeatedly found its way into the SOE net. Fans in the stands watched in disbelief as the scoreboard ticked higher and higher, 10, 20, 50, 100, before finally settling at an unimaginable 149-0.
The bizarre act wasn’t about humiliation, but a protest against the system. SOE wanted to send a message to the football authorities, but their actions instead drew global ridicule and heavy sanctions.
The Malagasy Football Federation swiftly intervened, banning SOE’s coach, Zaka Be, for three years, and suspending several players until the end of the season.
The match has since lived on as one of football’s strangest and most unforgettable moments, a bizarre blend of rebellion, frustration, and farce.
FKA/JE
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