Flares and pyros are almost certainly found in football when in Turkey, Serbia and similar places. It’s potentially dangerous but exciting to see on the screen. Since banned in many countries, people are becoming creative in the way in which they sneak flares into games.

Back in 2023, at the Viaplay Cup Final at Hampden Park Scotland, it was reported that spectators were smuggling flares in and hiding them in baguette sandwiches. This got us thinking: besides the usual, what other objects have been snuck into football stadiums during a matchday? What are the comical objects, what bring significance and what are just incredibly daft?

The El Clásico Fiasco

Possibly the most famous occurrence of a strange object being snuck into a stadium is back in 2002. Superstar forward Luis Figo completed his world record move of £37.2m to El Clásico rivals Real Madrid two years prior but the Barcelona fans were still not overly impressed with this and made their point.

The game itself was a tasty affair with Figo being booked early on for a late challenge. Crowd trouble marred this game and delays were made throughout to calm the atmosphere.

That, however, did not stop what was about to happen. Lining up to take a corner, with many objects being thrown onto the pitch and at Figo himself, it was beyond belief that one of these projectiles turned out to be a pig’s head. Why a pig’s head though?

Pig’s heads represent the darkness within all people. Perhaps this was a statement to Figo that he chose the dark side when he moved across the El Clásico. Whatever the message this story covered headlines across the world, did it affect Figo on the pitch though?

Of course not, being the professional he was Figo went on to cement his name as one of the greats. Pigs may not be able to fly but they sure can be thrown at football players.

Gardening In South America

Let us take a trip to South America now, often portrayed as a place of hostile football fans with many dangerous rivalries that cause harm on many occasions. This strange occurrence took place in a Copa Libertadores quarter-final clash between Club America of Mexico and Sao Caetano of Brazil.

In a heated game on the pitch, Club America striker Cuauhtémoc Blanco was dismissed earlier but reappeared from the tunnel after the game. His reappearance coincided with an on-field brawl, whether this was caused by his presence is unclear, but tempers were lost. With both sets of fans throwing projectiles onto the pitch, the scene turned ugly, coins, bottles, food and much more were thrown.

The standout object, however, is a wheelbarrow. Someone somehow managed to sneak a garden wheelbarrow into the stadium and, as the brawl broke out, launched the wheelbarrow from the stands down onto the pitch. Perhaps the head groundsman needs to commence a stock take on his tool shed after this one.

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Eating Your Greens

A quick, strange and commonly mentioned tale is that of Chelsea. Renowned for their catchy songs, including the ever so-creative ‘Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea’. Back in the 1980’s Mick Greenway, a so-called famous fan, became popular for creating the ‘Celery song’ which was often heard from Stamford Bridge. Not so much nowadays because it is slightly inappropriate.

This ‘innocent’ song was the catalyst for many fans to throw celery onto the pitch during games. This craze passed over time until 2002. Four fans tried bringing back the tradition of throwing celery onto the pitch, but this was quickly halted with the spectators responsible being arrested. Not an arrest you’d be telling your mates down the pub.

Beach Balls And Sex Toys

Most people will remember the beach ball incident between Liverpool and Sunderland in October of 2009. A Darren Bent strike deflecting off the ball and bamboozling Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.

Another story involving Liverpool is the incident that happened in 2001. A great season for The Reds, winners of the League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup that season. It was the UEFA Final Cup game that this odd occurrence took place.

Gary McAllister was hugely important for Liverpool at that time, and he remembers the final mostly for what he saw launched onto the pitch. A huge sex toy. Among the usual coins, food and bottles, a sex toy entered the pitch from the stands.

How and why a spectator had this on their person is unknown. How this was smuggled into the stadium again is unknown, but the mystery adds to the tale. Whoever it was, it must have been a difficult conversation with the wife asking where the sex toy had gone.

‘The Holy Vespa’

One final tale, and one that is possibly the most famous case of strange objects smuggled into football grounds. Serie A 2001. A match between Inter Milan and Atalanta at the San Siro. A big game, particularly in more recent years, with both teams battling it out towards the top of the table.

This story is now famous in Italy and labelled ‘The Holy Vespa’. Yes, a Vespa moped was seen in the stands of the San Siro. This begs for answers on how a moped was snuck through security. It’s not exactly the most inconspicuous item to get through the gates.

In fact, the moped was reportedly stolen from an Atalanta fan before the game. A bad day for that individual Atalanta fan, not only did he have his moped stolen, but he travelled away to see his side lose 3-0.

Fortunately, the moped did not make it onto the pitch, however. Initially, the Vespa was seen on the second tier. Inter fans proceeded to throw the moped over the railings, luckily into an empty section below.

Not affecting the game as intended, the fans simply had to watch the Vespa burn below them. ‘The Holy Vespa’, a tale never to be forgotten.

A Thing Of The Past

Some baffling tales of strange objects at football. Will we see an occurrence that would top all of these in the future? Maybe, but more likely not. It is hoped that security is much more thorough on matchdays now and to not spot a moped or a pig’s head should now be a thing of the past.

Stranger things have happened though so who knows, even if something similar does happen, it is unlikely to become more infamous than ‘The Holy Vespa’.

Written and Researched by BSc Cavan Campbell

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