There have been bizarre, crazy moments in football, but perhaps none more so than this.
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia reportedly faked an injury during his team’s 3-0 win over Chile in their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Chile on Thursday. Not a big deal, right?
Except, well, the reason behind him faking an injury was because he had to stay out of the clutches of the police.
After pulling up in the 82nd minute, Valencia was stretchered off. Then, on the sidelines and in full view of the stadium, he was transported to the ambulance on a golf cart with uniformed police in hot pursuit. All this while the match was going on, unaffected, behind him.
Yes, you read that right.
Don’t believe it? Here’s video evidence:
Valencia is in the golf cart and is being carried to an ambulance after being stretchered off. Behind him on foot are the Ecuadorian police. The striker, though, does manage to evade the police at the end. Oblivious to all these antics, the match carries on.
It is probably the most surreal sight to have been seen on a football field.
So where does it all originate from? The Everton striker owes £13,500 (approximately Rs 11 lakh) to the mother of his five-year-old daughter, over child maintenance costs. Some police offers and a lawyer had unsuccessfully attempted to detain him at a training session, first before the match and, then, on the team bus.
Thankfully for Valencia, the judge in the case has taken back the court order so Valencia won’t have to come up with those quick getaways anymore.
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