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Event	THB Champions League playoff
Date	October 31st, 2002
Venue	Barikadimy Stadium, Toamasina

AS Adema 149–0 SO l'Emyrne was an association football match played on October 31st, 2002 between two teams in Toamasina, Madagascar. It holds the world record for the highest scoreline in any association football match, recognised by The Guinness Book of Records. SO l'Emyrne (SOE) intentionally lost the game against their archrivals AS Adema in a pre-planned protest over refereeing decisions that had gone against them during a previous four-team playoff tournament. Prior to this match, the previous highest scoreline was 36–0, in which Arbroath beat Bon Accord in the Scottish Cup in 1885.^[1]

Overview

The match was part of a four-team round-robin play-off to determine the national championship. The league crown went to Adema after the reigning champions at the time, SO l'Emyrne, was held to a 3–3 draw by DSA Antananarivo in their penultimate match, during which the referee awarded a late and disputed penalty to Antananarivo, resulting in a draw.^[2]

That draw meant that SOE was knocked out of the title race. With the championship already decided, SOE decided to protest; according to some sources, there was an argument between the SOE coach and the referee himself. SOE deliberately scored 149 own goals, with reports showing that after each kick-off, the ball was kicked into their own goal with the opposition players looking bemused. Spectators descended on the ticket booths to demand a refund.^[3]

Following the match, the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF) suspended SOE coach Ratsimandresy Ratsarazaka for three years and four of the team's players, SOE captain Manitranirina Andrianiaina, goalkeeper Dominique Rakotonandrasana, Mamisoa Razafindrakoto (who was the captain of the Madagascar national football team) and Nicolas Rakotoarimanana, were suspended until the end of the season and banned from visiting stadiums in the same period. All other players from both teams received a warning and a threat of more serious action should they commit further offenses. All of SOE's results accumulated during the 2002 season were forfeited by the FMF and the club eventually dissolved four years later.

The referee was not punished, as the situation was deemed to be out of his control, while Madagascar's sports ministry proceeded to dissolve the FMF, which was later reconstituted.^[4]

Dominique Rakotonandrasana died on 9 November 2023, aged 53.^[5]

References

^ "Usain Bolt's amazing race, the slowest swimmer in Olympic history and football's biggest win: Incredible records which will never be broken". The National. Abu Dhabi the blackest team. 16 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
^ "The Day Questionable Refereeing Decisions Led to a 149–0 Scoreline". These Football Times. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
^ "Team repeatedly scores own goals to protest refs". ESPN Soccernet. ESPN. 1 November 2002. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
^ "Team punished for 149–0 own-goal farce". The Guardian. 29 November 2002. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
^ "Football en deuil : Dominique Rakotonandrasana n'est plus !". Midi Madagasikara. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2024.

External links

Kempson, Russell (2 November 2002). "Coach settles scores as his team notch 149 own goals". The Times. London: News International Limited. Retrieved 5 April 2009.^{[dead link‍]}
"Madagascan champions win 149–0". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. 1 November 2002. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
"149–0 scoreline sets new record". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 November 2002. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2009.