# Backside Goals and Political Football > Footballers score with backside goals, political leaders attend matches, and suspensions stretch decades. - Title: Backside Goals and Political Football · the Guardian - Summary: Footballers score with backside goals, political leaders attend matches, and suspensions stretch decades. Three footballers scored with backside goals, two… - Keywords: thierno barry, everton, dean coney, norwich, robbie slater, australia, souleymane ularé, stoke city, simeon goldstraw, mark carney, andy burnham, everton wolves carabao cup match - Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/07/which-footballers-have-ended-scoring-droughts-with-a-goal-off-their-backside - Published: 2026-10-07T07:00:36+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: thierno barry, everton, dean coney, norwich, robbie slater, australia, souleymane ularé, stoke city, simeon goldstraw, mark carney, andy burnham, everton wolves carabao cup match ## Backside Goals Thierno Barry scored Everton’s third goal with his backside in February 2024-25. > Thierno Barry scores Everton’s third goal against Newcastle in February with his backside ## Dean Coney’s Goal Dean Coney scored his only goal for Norwich in a 1989 draw with Aston Villa after a clearance rebounded off his backside. > Dean Coney for Norwich in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in 1989 ## Robbie Slater’s Goal Robbie Slater scored his first goal for Australia against the Solomon Islands in 2001 with his backside. > Slater managed to score his first goal for the Socceroos with his backside ## Souleymane Oularé’s Goal Souleymane Oularé scored Stoke City’s winning goal in extra time with his backside in 2002. > Souleymane Oularé played just two games for Stoke City, scoring a single goal in a playoff semi-final against Cardiff ## William Saliba’s Goal William Saliba scored with his backside against Manchester United in 2024-25. > William Saliba’s Arsenal career has been a bit more substantial. The defender scored with his rump against Manchester United in 2024-25 ## Political Leaders at Matches Andy Burnham and Mark Carney attended Everton’s Carabao Cup match against Wolves in January 2024. > Andy Burnham and Mark Carney were in attendance at the recent Everton v Wolves Carabao Cup match ## Tony Blair’s Matches Tony Blair hosted Bertie Ahern at Newcastle United matches in 1997 and 1999. > Tony Blair, famously a Newcastle fan, brought Bertie Ahern to two editions of Newcastle v Manchester United ## Long Suspension Éric Matoukou’s suspension spans 16 years after a 2010 red card. > On 19 August 2010, Matoukou received a red card playing for Genk in a Europa League qualifier against Porto ## Quick Equalisers Dan Agyei scored a goal for Coventry in 20 seconds, equalised by Marc Richards in 90 seconds. > Dan Agyei scored a brilliant solo goal for City after just 20 seconds, but a minute later Marc Richards equalised for the Cobblers ## Serie A Match Milan scored 5-4 against Pescara in a 1992 Serie A match with back-to-back goals. > Pescara took the lead in the first minute. Paolo Maldini equalised two minutes later and Gianluigi Lentini gave the Rossoneri the lead in the fifth minute ## Rangers’ Goal David Robertson scored Rangers’ only goal in a 2010 Scottish Cup quarter-final. > David Robertson scored the only goal in bizarre circumstances at Tannadice in 2010 ## Suspended Suspensions Éric Matoukou’s suspension spans 16 years after a 2010 red card. > On 19 August 2010, Matoukou received a red card playing for Genk in a Europa League qualifier against Porto ## Longest Suspension Éric Matoukou’s suspension spans 16 years after a 2010 red card. > On 19 August 2010, Matoukou received a red card playing for Genk in a Europa League qualifier against Porto ## What Happens Next Matoukou’s suspension remains incomplete after 16 years, with no further matches to serve. > Matoukou is now 43 and last played for amateur Belgian side Sprimont Comblain ## Key takeaway Three footballers scored with backside goals, two UK leaders watched Everton, and a player’s suspension spans 16 years.