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Football's shirt-swap sinners

Mario Balotelli's shirt-swapping antics landed him in hot water with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers © Getty Images

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Mario Balotelli's decision to swap shirts with Real Madrid defender Pepe at half-time on Wednesday angered both manager Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool fans alike. It isn't the first time Rodgers has been annoyed by his players exchanging sweaty jerseys, either, but at least he is not alone among the managerial fraternity. Here are four more moments of undressing madness:

November 2012, Old Trafford: Having endured a torrid first half for Arsenal against Manchester United, one could forgive Andre Santos for scarpering down the tunnel.

The only problem was he wasn't trying to escape the embarrassment of his shocking performance - but to catch Robin van Persie up and ask for the striker's shirt, in full view of the travelling Arsenal faithful.

Balotelli caught swapping shirts at half-time

• With Liverpool trailing Real Madrid 3-0 at half-time on what was billed as a vintage night of Champions League football at Anfield, manager Brendan Rodgers will have been desperate to see some fight in his players' eyes as they filed into the dressing room.
• When it came to Mario Balotelli, however, it was far from the case.
• Click here to read more

It was not a move that went down well, particularly considering it was Van Persie's first game against Arsenal since completing his controversial move from the Emirates Stadium to Manchester ... and he'd opened the scoring after three minutes.

"He is completely in a different world when he does that. He understands today what it means and, believe me, he won't do it again," Wenger said of the Brazilian's decision after the match. Santos was soon loaned out to Gremio before leaving the club permanently the following summer.

December 2012, Stamford Bridge: What is it about Liverpool and shirt-swapping? With their side trailing hosts Chelsea 2-1 at the break, both Mamadou Sakho and Philippe Coutinho began to strip off as they approached the tunnel.

Sakho swapped with Samuel Eto'o, who had just scored against him, while Coutinho was quick to grab Oscar's jersey. The pair would have got away with it, too, if it wasn't for the press.

A journalist told Rodgers of the incident after the match and the manager replied: "Well, one, I didn't know that, and two, thanks for telling me because I don't like that."

Needless to say, both were quickly dealt by the Anfield hierarchy.

March 2005, Stamford Bridge: Having conceded a penalty to let Barcelona back into a fiery-tempered Champions League clash, Paulo Ferreira must have felt pretty ropey before Jose Mourinho's half-time team talk.

Maybe he thought he was about to get hooked but Ferreira was seen walking off the pitch swapping shirts with Ronaldinho, who had scored the spot-kick the defender had given away, anyway.

Wembley, 1966: The World Cup shirt-swap that never was. Incensed with Argentina's "animals" after England beat them 1-0 to advance to the World Cup semi-finals, manager Alf Ramsey refused to let George Cohen exchange shirts with Alberto Gonzalez.

In fact, Ramsey was so angry with Argentina's behaviour during the match that he grabbed Cohen's jersey as he saw the pair attempt to swap. A case of 'it's my shirt and I'm taking it home with me'.

Mexico, 1970 - The exception: There is one shirt-swapping incident at least that sticks in the mind for all the right reasons:

Bobby Moore and Pele swap shirts in a gesture of mutual respect after Brazil defeated England 1-0 at the World Cup in 1970 © PA Photos

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