Law of the Ex: Betrayals that Marked Football History!

Gabigol scored on the rebound (after missing the penalty) his first goal against Flamengo after leaving the club to play for Cruzeiro, marking another case in history of the “Law of the Ex.”

Inspired by this, the Semfirula's team has selected for you some memorable “Law of the Ex” stories from world football.

The “Law of the Ex” doesn't exist by chance. A player who knows the entire tactical scheme of the opponent, having played for several years at the club they now face, has a significant advantage. This often leads to goals and moments of embarrassment or respect for the former club, or even anger and the beginning of a great rivalry full of grudges.

On November 3, 2012, Robin van Persie returned to Old Trafford for the first time as a Manchester United player and seized a defensive error by Arsenal to open the scoring at 2 minutes and 8 seconds, leading to a 2–1 victory that put the Red Devils at the top of the Premier League that round.

The match was marked by a missed penalty by Wayne Rooney in the first half, Jack Wilshere's red card, and Van Persie's restrained behavior when celebrating the goal against his former club in front of 75,000 spectators.

Van Persie opened the scoring against Arsenal at 2 minutes and 8 seconds, one of the fastest goals against a former club in Premier League history. Despite Arsène Wenger's request for a warm reception, Van Persie was booed by the Arsenal fans.

He chose the number 20 jersey upon his arrival at United to help the club win the 20th English title, a goal achieved that season.

On January 19, 2010, in the Carling Cup semi-final, Carlos Tévez delivered a remarkable performance against his former club, scoring twice in Manchester City's 2–1 victory over Manchester United, solidifying the “Law of the Ex” in one of the most intense derbies in history.

The player's performance ignited the crowd at the “City of Manchester Stadium” and sparked a controversy with Gary Neville, marking the start of a new era for the club under Sheik Mansour's management.

At 42 minutes, after Ryan Giggs opened the scoring at 17, Tévez was brought down in the area and converted the penalty with finesse, sending Edwin van der Sar the wrong way. The celebration generated tension: Tévez made a provocative gesture towards Gary Neville, who responded with the middle finger — an episode later reviewed by the FA, resulting in punishment for Neville. After the game, Tévez stated that the provocation was a response to “criticisms about his value” but without an intent to incite violence.

This derby went down in history as City's first victory over United in national competitions since 1974.

Tévez went on to become City's top scorer at the start of the season, reaching 13 goals in 11 games.

On August 30, 2014, Frank Lampard came on as a substitute in the second half and, at 85 minutes, scored the goal that secured a 1–1 draw between Manchester City and Chelsea in the Premier League — applying the classic “Law of the Ex” against the Blues.

Even in the excitement of the Etihad, Lampard did not celebrate the goal, opting for a restrained gesture out of respect for Chelsea supporters. Despite this, his City teammates surrounded Lampard with hugs and celebrated enthusiastically, while he maintained a discreet posture.

Even as an “enemy” at that moment, Lampard was greeted by banners from former Chelsea fans in the visiting section, acknowledging his career at the club.

Players like Gary Cahill admitted that it was “strange” to concede a goal by Lampard wearing another shirt, highlighting the psychological impact of the “Law of the Ex.”

On March 5, 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford with Real Madrid to face Manchester United, the club that nurtured him. In a night full of emotions, he received a mix of applause and boos, and at 68 minutes, he completed a cross from Higuaín, securing a comeback 2–1 victory that took Real Madrid to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Despite the initial affection, some fans did not forgive his 2009 departure, and he was booed at every touch, while scattered Madrid fans applauded him.

Instead of celebrating the goal, Cristiano raised his finger to his chest and lifted his hands, a gesture that silenced United's crowd and showed respect to the club that shaped him.

On March 6, 2021, at Der Klassiker, Bayern Munich turned a 0-2 deficit into a 4-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund, with a hat-trick by Robert Lewandowski in a triumph that reinforced the law of the ex and put Bayern two points ahead at the top of the Bundesliga.

Lewandowski scored at 26 minutes, equalized at 44, and completed the hat-trick at 90 minutes, ruthlessly, leaving no chance for his former teammates.

Coach Hansi Flick noted, “We had a bit of luck, but we were deserving,” praising Lewandowski's composure and the team's response. With this hat-trick, Lewandowski maintained the lead in the Golden Boot race of the Bundesliga, on his way to a record 41 goals in the 2020-21 season.

On September 17, 2017, at Old Trafford, Manchester United defeated Everton 4–0 in the sixth round of the Premier League, with Romelu Lukaku scoring the third goal at 89 minutes against his former club. It was the first time the Belgian faced Everton since leaving the club, and the “Law of the Ex” appeared with a goal and a celebration that “teased” the opposing fans.

After scoring, Lukaku ran towards the Everton fans, put his hand behind his ear to intensify the boos suffered throughout the match, and flashed a victorious smile.

In a post-game interview, the striker downplayed the celebration, saying it was “just a little fun between old friends.”

On the occasion, United fans chanted about the size of Lukaku's organ, leading the NGO Kick It Out to ask the club to address the lyrics for being of racist content.

On April 14, 2019, Mohamed Salah was the protagonist of the classic at Anfield, scoring a memorable goal in the 2–0 victory over Chelsea, reinforcing the famous “Law of the Ex.” Before this victory, Liverpool hadn’t beaten Chelsea at home in the Premier League for seven matches.

To try and intimidate, Chelsea fans resurrected an old chant about Steven Gerrard's “Slip” in 2014. At the time, because of this mistake, Liverpool conceded a goal to Chelsea in the classic. However, the provocation had no effect as Liverpool remained firm from start to finish.

After the stunning goal, Salah executed the tree pose (Vrikshasana), a tribute to yoga practice — a gesture that went viral and reinforced his calm and focused personality. Even respecting the Blues, Salah also “celebrated” with a subtle smile, seen as a professional gesture, but with a hint of provocation, typical of the “Law of the Ex.”

On April 28, 2019, Juan Mata, on his 31st birthday, opened the scoring for Manchester United against his former club Chelsea at 11 minutes, following a build-up play by Luke Shaw, showcasing his ability to link midfield and attack. Despite David De Gea's mistake allowing the equalizer (1–1), which compromised United's hopes in the Premier League's top 4, the goal secured Mata a special place among those who scored against a former team on their own birthday.

Among United players, only he, Wayne Rooney, and Anthony Martial scored against a former club on their birthdays.

The next day, in his official blog, Mata thanked for the birthday messages and said that “scoring at Old Trafford is always incredible,” showing humility and charisma.

Speaking of him, let's discuss Wayne Rooney's “Law of the Ex.” The match took place in the sixth round of the 2015/16 Premier League. Everton, coached by Roberto Martínez, tried to impose their game at home, while United, led by Louis van Gaal, sought to bounce back after stumbling against Arsenal in the previous round.

Rooney scored the third goal at 62 minutes, receiving a pass from Ander Herrera and finishing calmly to seal the victory. With this goal, he reached his 187th in the competition, equaling Andy Cole for second place in the Premier League's all-time top scorers. Before this match, United hadn’t won or scored a goal at Goodison Park since the 2011/12 season, during which they only accumulated defeats.

After finding the net, Rooney ran towards the Everton fans, celebrating in a manner both restrained and provocative. While some applauded his talent, many booed every touch of the player, a classic blend of respect and resentment from the “Law of the Ex.”

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