Brazilian side União Barbarense have admitted to deliberately fielding two players with the same number in an attempt to confuse opponents Linense.
Cláudio Britto wore the number seven shirt in the first half of Wednesday’s Campeonato Paulista match but returned from the half-time break with the same number five shirt as defender Rafael Silva.
The referee only noticed the ruse 26 minutes later when he ordered Britto to change his shirt and gave him a yellow card.
“They were on the attack and we used all the tricks we could to keep them at bay,” Britto, who finished the match wearing number 17, told Sportv.
“It was a strategy and it worked.”
Barbarense eventually ran out 3-2 winners at Linense, with an Alex brace followed by a winner from Bachin to help the strugglers climb off bottom spot.
Source: Yahoo
