“AHhhhhhh!!”
“OUUCHHHHH!”
“Uuerrghhhhhh!”
“NOoooooo!”
These might sound like the familiar groans of footballers taking a hard tackle on the pitch—but what if I told you they were actually coming from kitchens, living rooms, and even gas stations?
Sounds bizarre, right? That’s because it is.
These are the strange, often hilarious sounds of professional footballers suffering freak injuries… off the pitch. From mayonnaise mishaps to moose collisions, some of the game’s biggest stars have been sidelined not by opponents, but by everyday accidents—or even their own teammates.
Let’s dive into the weird world of freak football injuries and the bizarre ways the beautiful game can go very, very wrong.
Rio Ferdinand – TV Marathon Gone Wrong
Rio Ferdinand, known for his world-class defensive skills, once found himself sidelined after a bizarre accident. While enjoying a marathon TV session with his feet up, Ferdinand strained a tendon in his knee—apparently while reaching for the remote control. What started as a relaxing evening turned into several weeks of rehab thanks to this unlikely football injury.
Ever Banega – Car Trouble
Argentine midfielder Ever Banega will always be remembered for his self-inflicted football injury at a gas station. Forgetting to set the handbrake, his car rolled backward, trapping his leg under the wheel and leaving him with a broken leg. A painful reminder to always check your brakes!
Dave Beasant – Mayonnaise Mayhem
Goalkeeper Dave Beasant sustained a ridiculous football injury while reaching for a jar of mayonnaise at home. He accidentally dropped it, and in an attempt to catch it, the glass shattered—severing a tendon in his foot. This absurd mishap kept him off the field at the start of the 1993/94 season.
Sven Grondalen – Moose Encounter
Norwegian defender Sven Grondalen took outdoor training to the extreme. During a jog, he collided with a moose in the forest. The encounter left him injured and ruled out of an international match for Norway, proving that nature doesn’t always play fair.
Steve Morrow – Trophy Trouble
Steve Morrow’s injury came not during a game, but a celebration. After Arsenal's 1993 League Cup win, teammate Tony Adams lifted him into the air—only to accidentally drop him. Morrow fell awkwardly, breaking his collarbone in what was supposed to be a moment of triumph.
Darren Barnard – Puppy Slip-Up
Welsh midfielder Darren Barnard’s injury sounds too absurd to be true. After slipping on a puddle of his puppy's urine in the kitchen, Barnard tore knee ligaments and was sidelined for five months. Man’s best friend? Not this time.
Final Whistle
Footballers are no strangers to physical pain, but these off-the-pitch injuries show that even the most unlikely situations can knock a player out of action. Whether it’s slipping on puppy puddles or colliding with a moose, these stories prove you don’t always need an opponent to get hurt in football.
Bonus Read: For an even more bizarre injury-related story, check out our post on The Physio Who Got KO’d at the World Cup.