Players seek safety between touch lines.
Ferdinand is just the latest soccer player to suffer a freak injury. American goalkeeper Kasey Keller knocked out his front teeth in 1998 while pulling his golf clubs out of the trunk of his car. Goalies seem especially prone to quirky injuries. Former England keeper Dave Beasant suffered his career-worst injury when he cut the ligaments in his ankle after dropping a bottle of salad dressing on his foot. Brodie shattered his kneecap while the dog got the ball.