10 of football's most bizarre injuries: coke cans, goal celebrations... and misapplied suppositories

8. Leroy’s luckless lie-in

We’ve all struggled to get up in the morning, but in August 2007, Leroy Lita just couldn’t get out of the sack. Literally. Indulging in a good old morning stretch, the striker trapped a nerve in his leg and missed the opening three games of the season. “It’s not an injury that should be ridiculed,” grizzled Reading boss Steve Coppell. “Leroy’s in a great deal of pain. He could hardly walk yesterday.” Still funny, though.

9. Balls deep in trouble

When bumping uglies with the missus, always ensure there are no hot liquids around. Just ask Argentinos Juniors forward Emilio Hernandez, who, mid-coitus in February 2011, knocked a cup of boiling water onto his testicles (seriously, how?). Two weeks later the Chilean returned to action, still sporting a John Wayne waddle.

10. Player and team both on the slide

Two months without victory, Real Betis's need for a win bordered on the febrile against fellow strugglers Numancia in April 2008, so when talismanic forward Sergio Garcia netted inside 10 minutes, things looked good – until he attempted a knee-slide celebration, got stuck in the ground and strained his ligaments. Betis lost four of the subsequent six games that the ponytailed hitman missed and went down on goal difference. Oops?