One to file under the 'it seemed like a good idea at the time' column.
Brazilian side Uniao Barbarense came up with a cunning ruse in their efforts to beat rivals Linense in their match in the Sao Paulo state championship this week - field two players with the same shirt numbers.
No, I can't figure it out either.
Barbarense deployed midfielder Britto with the number seven shirt during the first half of last night's game, before giving him the number five shirt for the second half. Defender Rafael Silva also wore the number five shirt.
After being spotted by the referee, a whole 26 minutes into the second half, Britto changed numbers again. This time for the number 17 shirt. For his cunning ruse, the player picked up a yellow card.
"They were on the attack and we used all the tricks we could to keep them at bay," Britto said afterwards.
"It was a strategy and it worked."
Apparently so. Barbarense won the match 3-2. Although it might have been 5-2 at half time and someone swapped the numbers about...