‘Cheekiest penalty ever’ or ‘fluffed Panenka’? Eric Bautheac ignites global debate

Eric Bautheac’s incredible ‘false Panenka’ penalty has had football fans around the world rubbing their eyes in disbelief.  

Bautheac, 31, dispatched a second-half spot-kick in the most audacious manner imaginable during Brisbane Roar’s 5-3 defeat to Adelaide United last Thursday.

But did he mean it? 

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The Frenchman delicately scuffed the ball from the spot, sending Reds shot stopper Paul Izzo down, with the ball dribbling over the goal line in what felt like slow motion.

The cheeky effort has ignited worldwide debate on social media – see the best tweets below – while news outlets including the BBC, BT Sport, Soccer AM and Get French Football News have all been left bamboozled by Bautheac’s bold approach.

The former Ligue 1 man – who on Sunday night was named Roar’s player’s player of the season – has been no stranger to the spectacular in 2018/19, a point that may just bring people to his side when coming to a decision over whether or not his attempt was dead-set deliberate, or a fortunate fluff.

The player himself insists it was all part of the plan, telling the Courier-Mail: “I said to the team before the game ‘if we get a penalty and I take, I will shoot slowly at the middle of the goal’. But it ended up being very slowly.

“It’s what I wanted to do, but not so slowly. A little bit harder would have been better. When I watch the video of it, it’s amazing.”

You be the judge – did Bautheac mean it?

 

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