Eric Bautheac’s ‘false panenka’ A-League penalty sparks worldwide debate

A truly bizarre A-League goal is making headlines across the world and most are debating the same thing — whether it was a brilliant, groundbreaking move or just a beautiful accident.

Éric Bauthéac bizarre A-League penalty.

Eric Bautheac’s outrageous A-League penalty is making headlines worldwide, as debate rages as to whether he actually meant what has been dubbed a historic “false panenka”.

The Frenchman finished a second half penalty in incredible fashion in Thursday’s 5-3 loss to Adelaide, totally bamboozling United ‘keeper Paul Izzo.

Bautheac gently scuffed the ball, slowly sending it into the goal in what seemed slow motion, leaving many to debate whether it was a failed “panenka” attempt or a bold, revolutionary penalty.

The has been picked up by news outlets right across the world, with the BBC asking readers whether it was “the cheekiest penalty ever”.

UK site Sport Bible picked up the story, hailing Bautheac for pulling off the first ever ‘false panenka’ penalty but also debating whether he actually meant it.

“It takes a lot guts to take a Panenka penalty because if you mess it up then it you get completely embarrassed but Éric Bauthéac has proved the exception to the rule by scoring despite seemingly messing up his panenka,” they wrote.

“... That’s either the best penalty ever taken or the best miss-hit and, whilst I’d like to believe it’s the former, it definitely feels like it’s the miss-hit.”

The Sun described the goal as an “outrageous rolling Panenka” while Irish site The42 described it as “magnificently cheeky”.

UK site Give Me Sportsuggested it was likely a beautiful accident.

“The way Bautheac reacted immediately after he struck the ball hints that he didn’t intend to hit it in that manner,” they wrote.

“Regardless, the ball still went in the net and he will not complain with the final result.”

Unsurprisingly, Bautheac’s penalty caused quite the stir on social media.

Bautheac, for his part, insists he penalty was no mistake.