The legend of Miroslav Klose grew by leaps and bounds Wednesday.
The Lazio striker used his hand to score a goal, then spectacularly convinced the referee to disallow it. The sport of soccer is better off because of it.
Klose’s heroics came in the pressure cooker that is Italy’s Serie A. In the fifth minute of visiting Lazio’s game against Napoli, Klose redirected a corner kick into the goal with his hand. In fact, he might have been trying to move his hand out of the way when the ball struck it. Napoli players protested furiously, while some Lazio players celebrated. What happened next will cement his good name around the world.
In the mystical spirit of fair play, Klose spoke to the referee and convinced him to disallow the goal. It earned him the respect of players on both sides (as if he didn’t already have it) and he was rightfully applauded by fans at Napoli’s San Paulo Stadium.
Klose, 34, has bagged so many goals for club and country, he probably didn’t want any cheap ones on his resume. His glittering international career includes 64 goals for Germany, including the 14 he’s scored at three FIFA World Cups — good for second-most all time. The German marksman has also scored more than 185 goals for four clubs in two countries.
Unfortunately, that would be the high point of Lazio’s game, as Klose’s team suffered a 3-0 drubbing.
Watch Klose live in the spirit of fair play in the video below.
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Photo via Facebook/Brad Friedel
