da premier bet： 16 years ago today, Paolo Di Canio cemented his place in Premier League folklore.
da marjack bet： It wasn’t for one of his trademark scissor-kick volleys, famous on-pitch temper tantrums or fisticuffs with an official; rather, for one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship we’ve ever seen in the English top flight.
With West Ham on the attack away at Everton, Toffees goalkeeper Paul Gerrard came out to meet the ball before it was clearly evident that he had injured himself in doing so.
However, the Hammers carried on and when the ball was floated into the box with no stopper between the sticks, instead of finishing into the unguarded net, Di Canio instead caught the ball to allow Gerrard to get the treatment he required.
The Italian may still be seen as a rather controversial character, but in that split second, Di Canio decided which side of the line he stood on, demonstrating inherent respect for the sanctity of the beautiful game.
So in honour of the moment which immortalised Di Canio as a Premier League cult hero, here are five more examples of great sportsmanship in the beautiful game…
Robbie Fowler vs Arsenal
Liverpool were travelling to face the Gunners in a Premier League match in 1997, and it proved to be one that was remembered for some remarkable honesty from Reds striker Robbie Fowler.
Mark Wright played the attacker through on goal and when he took the ball around Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman and lost his footing, the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
However, having effectively fallen over his own feet, Fowler ran up to the official to try and convince him that he had instead tripped, and later received praise from FIFA for his actions.
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City
It was a League Cup tie between the east Midlands rivals at the City Ground in 2007, and it was an electric atmosphere.
However, it quickly took a turn for the worse during the interval as it emerged that Foxes defender Clive Clarke had collapsed in the dressing room with the Reds leading 1-0.
The game was abandoned but when the replay took place three weeks later, Leicester’s players allowed Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith to run through unchallenged to score and restore the lead they had from the original match.
Miroslav Klose vs Napoli
The German legend was known to be one of the gentlemen of the beautiful game, and he showed exactly why during a Serie A match for Lazio against Napoli in 2012.
Klose – well renowned for his goalscoring – put the ball in the back of the net again on this occasion, but with his hands.
Initially, the referee gave the goal but when Klose pleaded with him for it to be disallowed because he handled it, the official chalked it off.
Jan Vertonghen vs SC Cambuur
The Tottenham defender is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League at the current time, but he produced a brilliant act of sportsmanship for his former club, Ajax.
Then 19, the Belgian accidentally put the ball into the net when trying to give it back to the opposition goalkeeper after play had stopped to allow one of his teammates to receive some treatment.
Vertonghen ordered his side to stand aside and allow Cambuur to score from the kick-off, to restore parity.
Arsene Wenger vs Sheffield United
Arsene Wenger had only recently signed Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 and the young attacker was clearly unaware of the fair play rules during a FA Cup tie against Sheffield United at Highbury.
With the scores at 1-1, the Blades put the ball out of play as a player laid down injured.
However, when Ray Parlour attempted to throw the ball back to Alan Kelly, Kanu intercepted it and played it across to Marc Overmars, who put it into the back of the net.
Wenger decided that the game had to be replayed for the aggrieved United, in a great show of sportsmanship.