Football's five best practical jokes - Did they see the funny side?

After Sammy Ameobi was tricked into thinking Zlatan Ibrahimovic was walking around Paris asking for money, we’ve taken a look at some of football’s best practical jokes.

Peter Schmeichel and the Kettle

Nicky Butt had a really good idea that it would be a great laugh to brand former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel on the backside with a boiling hot kettle. The only thing that went wrong was the Dane turning around at the worst possible moment.

Beresford’s Clown Outfit

When John Beresford originally joined Newcastle United, he was tricked into thinking there was a fancy dress pre-season reception at the club. He went out, got dressed up as a clown and then turned up at a civic reception where the Lord Mayor of Newcastle was making an appearance.

Balotelli’s Maserati

Mario Balotelli was a big perpetrator of practical jokes during his time at Manchester City. However, it backfired on him when he left his Maserati unlocked and his teammates placed a bag full of kippers inside before the pre-season tour in 2011 which meant the smell had the duration of that tour to linger.

Gazza in a Bath Tub

When Paul Gascoigne asked Gary Lineker what he did before games to have such a prolific strike rate, he told Gazza that he filled a bath tub with boiling hot water and sat in it. In reality, he only filled the bath with a couple of inches of steaming water to aid his muscles but Gazza went the whole ten yards and jumped into a full bath tub.

Gazza and the Kettle Whistle

Gazza features again and this time it’s more side splittingly funny rather painful. Gazza dismantled a kettle to get the whistle component, which he then attached to the exhaust of former teammate and friend Ian Elliott’s car. Needless to say wherever Elliott drove, he was accompanied by a rather high pitched screaming sound.

Give us some of your best football related practical jokes!

image: © rosshawkes

Lewis Doe

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Lewis Doe is a freelance writer and editor who seeks to bring you the biggest, smallest and most interesting stories from the football world. Lewis has previously written for some of the biggest football news and opinion sites in the world including FootballFanCast and Goal.com International. Lewis is also experienced writing in the betting industry and aims to deliver his stories with up to date factual and statistical information. He hopes to sum up stories for the site and provide an angle on the issue moving forward.