The world record for the highest scoreline in football (soccer), recognised by The Guinness Book of Records, is 149-0, set on 31 October 2002. AS Adema, of Toamasina in Madagascar, beat their arch-rivals Stade Olympique de L'Emyrne (SOE) as the result of a pre-determined protest by SOE over refereeing decisions that had gone against them during a four-team playoff tournament. The match surpassed the previous record for the highest scoreline of 36-0, set in 1885.
The match was part of a four-team round robin playoff to determine the national championship. The league crown went to Adema after SOE were held to a 2-2 draw by DSA in their penultimate match, during which the referee awarded a late and disputed penalty. The resulting draw meant that SOE were 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 spectators saying that after each kick-off the ball was kicked into their own goal, the opposition players standing and looking bemused. It was reported that spectators descended on the ticket booths to demand a refund.[1]
Following the match, the Fédération Malagasy de Football suspended the SOE coach, Zaka Be, for three years, and four of the team's players - defender Mamisoa Razafindrakoto, the captain of the Madagascar national football team the "Scorpions", SOE captain Manitranirina Andrianiaina, and players Nicolas Rakotoarimanana and goalkeeper Dominique Rakotonandrasana - were suspended until the end of the season and banned from visiting stadiums for the same period. All the other players, from both teams, received a warning and a threat of more serious action should they commit further offences. The referee was not punished.[2]
| 31 October 2002 |
AS Adema | 149 - 0 | SO l'Emyrne | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Own Goal |