Paolo Di Canio and the sporting action that made history.
A gesture that made the history of fairplay on the fields of football around the world.
A little more than 18 years have passed since that 18 December 2000, the day when Paolo Di Canio performed an emotional, moving act.
This is not a goal scored in a scoring spree, but a gesture that is worth more than a thousand words of solidarity.
That Monday in December, in Premier League, at Goodison Park was played Everton-West Ham. It was a tight, hard-fought match that ended in a draw, 1-1. But it could have ended differently, namely with the visiting team winning. It was almost the 90th minute, in the middle of injury time, when Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard launched himself into a low exit.
In an attempt to anticipate the attacker, however, the extreme defender collided with the opponent and was left sore on the ground in the penalty area. The action continued on the right flank, Sinclair let off a cross into the centre of the box for Paolo Di Canio.
He could have cared less, placing the ball in the net with his head, almost undisturbed.
But 'we are all better at Christmas', as Di Canio himself said during an interview. The Italian striker, on that occasion, voluntarily stopped the ball with his hands, blocking the game and allowing Everton's medical staff to rescue their goalkeeper. Thanks, applause and ovations for Di Canio. His behaviour allowed him to go down in history, winning the Fair Play of the Year award, presented to him by then-president FIFAJoseph Blatter. But even today, as the former West Ham player himself testified, he still receives messages from Everton fans.
Congratulations and many thanks, again, for giving, with a single gesture, the essence of football.
Paolo Di Canio himself, a few years earlier, had hit the headlines for another, quite different gesture. A shove at the referee, when he was wearing the shirt of the Sheffield
Wednesdaya reaction that cost him an eleven-day disqualification.
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