The Southampton midfielder Fabrice Fernandes booked himself a spot among hallowed company in April 2003, when Saints drew 0-0 at home to Bolton. The frustrated Frenchman highlighted his annoyance at a dubious Bolton free-kick by … falling to the ground in front of the referee and rolling around on the floor. Upon standing up, he received an ovation from the home supporters – and a booking from the ref.
Neil Lennon was another penalised for daring to display his humorous side, as Sam Winter recalls. "I was watching Leicester v Coventry in the Premiership back in August 1999. Leicester were playing dreadfully and a flag-happy linesman was making it doubly bad. At one point there was a collision on the touchline between a couple of players and this particular linesman was injured as a result. Lennon went off the pitch into the disabled spectator area and got an empty wheelchair for him. He was booked."