WHEN someone mentions the term ‘pen’ in football, you might naturally think of a penalty. Yet, a laser pen stole the show in the game between Estudiantes and Velez Sarsfield in the Argentine Primera division.
Cameras caught sight of who the pen belonged to, a fan in the Estudientes end, Delfina Quiroga, who pointed it at the Velez goalkeeper’s chest as a means of distraction.
But this is not the first time that a laser pen has been brought to attention in football.
Let’s recap some of the other times this small device has been in the limelight.
England v Denmark, Euro 2020 semi-final
An English fan shone a light into the eyes of Kasper Schmeichel when Harry Kane came to take a controversial penalty in extra time.
Yet, the action didn’t go unpunished as the FA was fined ยฃ30,000 as a disciplinary.
Algeria v Russia, World Cup 2014
A laser pointer found its way onto Russian goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev’s, face whilst defending his team’s 1-0 lead from a free kick.
Algeria scored from the set play, with Russia’s head coach, Fabio Capello, seething, “the goalkeeper was unable to do his job.”
The Algerian Football Federation was fined approximately ยฃ33,000 as the pen defied FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations as a prohibited item.
Senegal v Egypt, World Cup Qualifiers 2022
During a penalty shootout that would decide who would claim the spot at the Qatar World Cup, dozens of laser pens struck the face of Mohammed Salah.
He missed his crucial penalty by several feet, having his vision obscured by around a dozen lights.
Monterrey v Tigres, Liga MX
This time from a player and not from the stands! Nahuel Guzman received an 11-game ban after he targeted the opposition midfield players from the bench.
