10 September 2010 - That's Why You've Got To Keep Your Eye On The Ball

On 10 September 2010, FAR Rabat goalkeeper Khalid Askri committed a blunder that made him an instant internet celebrity.

It happened during a Coupe du Trône match against FAR Rabat's Moroccan league rivals, Maghreb Fez. Askri and his counterpart had done well to keep the match scoreless to force a decision by penalty shootout. There, Askri did well to parry a shot by a Maghreb player. After knocking the ball away, he jumped to his feet and faced the stands, pounding his chest. But he failed to notice that, after landing outside the goal, the ball's spin carried it in. The shooter noticed it, however, and brought it to the attention of the referee, who awarded the goal. Maghreb went on to win the shootout, 0-0 (7-6).

Askri's mistake hit YouTube shortly afterward and immediately went viral, with over a million views in the first week. But Askri's notoriety did not end there; just a few days later, an opposing player robbed the ball from his feet inside the box and scored, prompting Askri to storm off the field in a scene that earned him even more YouTube views.

Maghreb, meanwhile, advanced to the Coupe du Trône Final, where they lost to FUS de Rabat.

25 September 2010 - Maybe He Developed A Taste For Celebrity

On 25 September 2010, FAR Rabat goalkeeper Khalid Askri made an error that saw him become an internet sensation for the second time in just over two weeks.

Fifteen days earlier, Askri blew a penalty save that went viral and racked up millions of views on YouTube. In a cup match against Maghreb Fez that went to a penalty shootout, he parried a kick, but as he was celebrating, the ball's spin carried it into the net for a score. Maghreb went on to win, 0-0 (7-6).

Back at home for the first time since that game (and an intervening away draw with Wydad Casablanca), FAR Rabat hosted KAC Kenitra in the league. Right before the break, with the match scoreless, one of his teammates chested the ball back to Askri, who received it at his feet just inside the 18-yard box. But he failed to notice the Kenitra player bearing down on him, who stole the ball away and drove it into the empty net.

It proved to be too much for the goalkeeper, who immediately ran off the pitch, stripping off his shirt on the way and beating himself in the head with his hands while avoiding his teammates' attempts to restrain him. That incident was also caught on video and went viral like the one before.

Although many viewers speculated that Askri had given up goalkeeping after that match, he finished the season with FAR Rabat, then spent a year with Chabab Rif Al Hoceima before moving to his current club, Raja Casablanca, in 2012.

10 September 2010 - That's Why You've Got To Keep Your Eye On The Ball

On 10 September 2010, FAR Rabat goalkeeper Khalid Askri committed a blunder that made him an instant internet celebrity.

It happened during a Coupe du Trône match against FAR Rabat's Moroccan league rivals, Maghreb Fez. Askri and his counterpart had done well to keep the match scoreless to force a decision by penalty shootout. There, Askri did well to parry a shot by a Maghreb player. After knocking the ball away, he jumped to his feet and faced the stands, pounding his chest. But he failed to notice that, after landing outside the goal, the ball's spin carried it in. The shooter noticed it, however, and brought it to the attention of the referee, who awarded the goal. Maghreb went on to win the shootout, 0-0 (7-6).

Askri's mistake hit YouTube shortly afterward and immediately went viral, with over a million views in the first week. But Askri's notoriety did not end there; just a few days later, an opposing player robbed the ball from his feet inside the box and scored, prompting Askri to storm off the field in a scene that earned him even more YouTube views.

Maghreb, meanwhile, advanced to the Coupe du Trône Final, where they lost to FUS de Rabat.