An Italian footballer’s career took off in the last seconds before he retired when masked men swooped from a helicopter to ‘kidnap’ him.
Veteran Ignazio Barbagallo has now been rotared out of the plans for his tiny Sicilian team – but his send-off eclipsed the farewells given to the world’s best players
The 55-year-old was playing for Viagrande in the Sicilian League and he came up with an amazing send-off with his local side as he was smuggled off into retirement.
A game was going on, and suddenly, a helicopter landed on the pitch and three blokes, two of which were wearing balaclavas jumped off which caused widespread fears and tension.
Barbagallo then held his hands up in surrender as two men in balaclavas hauled him off and into the helicopter which soared off straight away.
And it was after the player got into the air that his other teammates and fans knew that the kidnap was planned as a sign of retirement from football.
But the football authorities who were livid with such action, however, banned Barbagallo with his club receiving a €200