Swedish Footballer Sent Off for Farting: ‘It’s the Strangest Thing I’ve Seen on a Pitch’
In a bizarre turn of events that has left the football world both amused and bewildered, a Swedish footballer was shown a red card—not for a reckless tackle, not for dissent, but for farting on the pitch.
Adam Lindin Ljungkvist, a 25-year-old left-back for Pershagen SK, found himself in an unprecedented situation during a match against rivals Jarna SK.
Pershagen SK, Ljungkvist’s team, competes in the seventh tier of Swedish football, a level far removed from the glamour of the top flight.
Despite the low profile of the league, this incident has catapulted the club and its player into the international spotlight.
During the game, Ljungkvist was given two yellow cards, which ultimately led to his dismissal, for what the referee considered “unsportsmanlike behavior.”
The reason? He broke wind, and the sound was apparently loud enough to be heard by players and officials alike.
“I was shocked,” Ljungkvist told BBC Newsbeat.
“The bench didn’t believe me when I came to them and said I got a red card for farting!” His disbelief is understandable—this is certainly not a common occurrence in football.
Imagine jogging back to the sidelines, trying to explain to your teammates that you’ve been sent off for something everyone does.
It’s the kind of story that sounds made up, but Ljungkvist insists it’s all too real.
The referee, Dany Kako, defended his decision, stating that he perceived Ljungkvist’s action as a “deliberate provocation.” “It was inappropriate,” Kako told a local outlet, as reported by The Guardian.
He even drew a comparison to another incident where a player was shown a yellow card for peeing on the pitch, suggesting that bodily functions on the field are not tolerated, no matter how natural they might be.
Kako believed Ljungkvist was “farting on someone else,” a claim the player vehemently denies.
Kristoffer Linde, a striker for Jarna SK, was one of those who heard the infamous fart.
“I was standing a good distance away but I heard it loud and clear,” he told a local newspaper.
“It’s the strangest thing I’ve seen on a pitch, and I’ve been playing football since I was eight years old.” Linde’s comment highlights just how unusual the situation was, though he seemed more astonished by the referee’s decision than the act itself.
After all, in the heat of a match, a loud fart might raise a few eyebrows, but a red card? That’s next-level.
For his part, Ljungkvist insists there was no malice in his actions.
“Every time I pushed my body I had to fart a little bit. It was one of those days,” he explained.
“I don’t really care about farting—everyone does it, it’s a normal thing. But there’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like it.” His laid-back attitude is refreshing, especially given how quickly this incident spiraled into a global story.
It’s hard to imagine being in his shoes, trying to explain to friends and family that you’ve become an internet sensation for something so… human.
The story quickly gained traction beyond the football community. Ljungkvist found himself thrust into the spotlight, with his face appearing on social media and in news outlets around the world.
“Being on Facebook and scrolling down and seeing your own face on The Sport Bible, that’s just crazy,” he said.
“I don’t get how a small fart can get so much attention!” The opposing team had even threatened to call the media, which they apparently did, leading to the widespread coverage.
It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder if the Jarna SK players were giggling as they tipped off reporters.
It’s hard not to chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
Football is a game that has seen its fair share of strange moments—think of players slipping on banana peels or getting tangled in their own nets—but a player being sent off for flatulence? That’s a new one.
It raises questions about what constitutes “unsportsmanlike behavior” and whether referees should be policing such natural bodily functions.
From Kako’s perspective, maintaining decorum on the pitch is crucial, and any action that could be seen as disrespectful or distracting might warrant a card.
Still, many would argue that a fart, however loud, is hardly grounds for dismissal.
Ljungkvist himself seems to be handling the situation with good humor, which is probably the best approach in such a ridiculous circumstance.
“Believe it or not, this happened,” he said, addressing any skepticism about the story’s authenticity.
He even went so far as to call the referee a “buffoon” in a later interview, a jab that shows his frustration but also his ability to laugh at the situation.
After all, when you’re sent off for something as universal as farting, what else can you do but shrug and move on?
The incident has sparked debates among football fans and pundits, with some arguing that the referee overreacted, while others believe that any form of unsportsmanlike behavior should be penalized, even if it’s as unusual as flatulence.
On platforms like X, fans have been quick to share memes and jokes, turning Ljungkvist into an unlikely internet celebrity.
It’s a reminder that even in the lower tiers of football, the unexpected can happen—and sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest splash.
Pershagen SK and Jarna SK may not be household names, but this incident has put them on the map, at least for now.
Whether it’s a story that will be remembered as a quirky footnote in football history or a cautionary tale for referees to lighten up, one thing is clear: Ljungkvist’s fart heard ‘round the world has given us all something to talk about.
