5 best fair play moments in football: 'Mad man' Kahn showed heart, Klose scored a 'gold goal'

Imagine you are standing before an open goal with a golden opportunity to secure a vital victory for your club. The opposing goalkeeper has collapsed, helpless and writhing in pain. If you slide the ball into the net, you become the match-winner in the headlines. However, if you choose to stop the play or kick the ball out so your opponent can receive urgent medical care, you become a hero of the sport itself. 

It is never easy to decline a goal in the heat of competition, but choosing integrity ensures you will be remembered for decades as a role model for future generations. In a sport defined by fierce physical contact and high-stakes pressure, where tackles can sometimes feel like a clash of titans, these moments act as a guiding light. 

Flashscoremobi believes that these instances remind us of the profound humanity that still exists on the pitch. The following selection of the best fair play moments in football highlights that winning is important, but how you win defines your legacy forever.

5 best fair play moments in football history

5. Morten Wieghorst’s intentional miss (Denmark vs Iran, 2003) 

In a 2003 international friendly, a truly bizarre incident occurred. An Iranian defender, hearing a whistle from the stands, mistakenly thought the half was over and picked up the ball inside his own penalty area. The referee was forced to award a penalty to Denmark. However, after a quick consultation with coach Morten Olsen, Danish midfielder Morten Wieghorst intentionally kicked the ball wide of the post. 

The Iranian players and fans responded with a standing ovation. Denmark eventually lost the match 1-0, but Wieghorst was later honored with an Olympic Committee Fair Play award. Wieghorst, who played for Celtic and Brondby during his career, retired in 2005 at age 34 and later transitioned into a successful coaching career, including serving as an assistant for the Danish national team.

4. Aaron Hunt’s honest confession (Werder Bremen vs Nuremberg, 2014) 

During a Bundesliga clash in March 2014, Werder Bremen’s Hunt went down in the box, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. While his teammates prepared to celebrate, Hunt stood up and told the official there was no contact and that he had actually dived. The penalty was overturned, and Nuremberg’s Javier Pinola shook Hunt's hand in deep respect. Hunt later told Sky Sports, "It was pure instinct, but it was wrong. We don’t want to win a match like that." 

Hunt was a stalwart for Bremen, making over 200 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2014, winning the DFB-Pokal in 2009. After spells at Wolfsburg and Hamburg, he retired in 2021 at the age of 35.

3. Miroslav Klose denies his own goal (Lazio vs Napoli, 2012) 

In September 2012, during a Serie A match between Lazio and Napoli, German legend Klose scored from a corner. As Napoli players protested, Klose walked to the referee and admitted the ball had struck his hand. The goal was disallowed, and instead of a yellow card, the referee shook Klose's hand while Napoli players embraced him. 

Lazio lost 3-0, but Klose’s honesty earned him the University of Rome’s Sports Ethics Award. Klose is the all-time World Cup top scorer and enjoyed a brilliant stint at Lazio from 2011 to 2016, scoring 63 goals.

2. Oliver Kahn’s compassion (Bayern Munich vs Valencia, 2001) 

The 2001 Champions League final was decided by a tense penalty shootout. When Bayern Munich emerged victorious, most players ran to celebrate their European crown. However, legendary goalkeeper Kahn did the opposite. He walked straight to Valencia’s goalkeeper, Santiago Canizares, who was sobbing on the goal line, and offered him words of comfort. 

This act of empathy from the “mad man” earned him a FIFA Fair Play award. Kahn spent 14 years at Bayern, winning eight Bundesliga titles and the 2001 Champions League. He retired in 2008 at age 38 as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history.

1. Paolo Di Canio’s ultimate sacrifice (West Ham vs Everton, 2000)

Ranking at the top of our list is Di Canio's iconic gesture during a Premier League match in 2000. With the game tied at 1-1 in stoppage time, Everton keeper Paul Gerrard went down with a knee injury, leaving the goal wide open. As a cross came toward Di Canio, he simply caught the ball with his hands and pointed to the injured keeper. The Goodison Park crowd, usually hostile to opponents, gave him a thunderous standing ovation. 

FIFA later awarded him the Fair Play Award for his selflessness. Di Canio played for West Ham from 1999 to 2003, scoring 47 goals in 118 appearances and winning the Intertoto Cup. The fiery Italian also played for AC Milan, Juventus, and Lazio before retiring in 2008 at age 39 to pursue a career in management and punditry.

Summary of the top 5 fair play moments:

Paolo Di Canio (2000) 

Oliver Kahn (2001) 

Miroslav Klose (2012) 

Aaron Hunt (2014) 

Morten Wieghorst (2003) 

Which of these incredible stories from the best fair play moments in football listed by Flashscoremobi.com moved your heart the most, or have we missed a legendary moment you think belongs here? 

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