Novak Djokovic eating grass at Wimbledon, a pistol-packing referee in Brazil, or a ghost haunting Pakistan cricketer Haris Sohail: it’s been a bumper year for world sports’ light-hearted moments.

Here are some of the best:

Whistle? Check; Cards? Check; Pistol? Check

When things started to go wrong during a Brazilian amateur football game, the referee took drastic action. Reach for a card? No. He went for his gun!

Players and staff of the Amantes da Bola and Brumahdinho teams brawled with referee Gabriel Murta getting kicked and slapped during the melee. So instead of reaching into his shirt for the card, he went back to the changing room for his firearm.

Video footage emerged of the referee brandishing a handgun at players before being led away by other match officials.

No arrests were made, but according to Globo newspaper the referee was to be given a psychological evaluation.

Azarenka fights to ‘pinish’ at US Open

Victoria Azarenka added a new word to the tennis lexicon after her US Open third round win against Angelique Kerber — ‘pinish’.

During changeovers, the Belarusian was spotted consulting a series of motivational, self-help tips. When asked to reveal one, she said, ‘pinish’.

“It was my coach’s idea — it’s a combination of ‘punish’ and ‘finish’,” said former Australian Open champion Azarenka.

Taylor’s car antics leave owner stumped

Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor was discovered asleep in someone else’s car after Nottinghamshire’s victory over Durham in English county cricket’s One-Day Cup.

Michael Whitaker was leaving for work when he found someone lying in his unlocked Chevrolet Matiz. It turned out to be the 29-year-old Taylor.

“Neither myself, the police or Brendan knew what to do,” Whitaker told the Nottingham Post.

“I don't think he knew where he was but he was very apologetic and it quickly became clear that it was very innocent.”

Whitaker added: “Realising who it was made it even funnier because how often do you find an international cricket star asleep in your car?”

Putt the question! Player proposes to girlfriend on course

Danish golfer Andreas Harto missed the cut at the Made in Denmark tournament, but was still celebrating after proposing to his girlfriend on the 16th green.

The 27-year-old made a birdie, then gestured to his stunned girlfriend, Louise, who was watching from the sidelines and got down on one knee before plucking a jewellery box from his pocket.

“I couldn’t say any words and I didn't hear her say ‘yes’, so I had to ask her afterwards and luckily she did want to marry me so I’m a lucky man.”

Wimbledon champion Djokovic munches a bunch

Novak Djokovic celebrated his third Wimbledon title with a nibble of the famed Centre Court grass.

“It tasted very, very good this year. I don’t know what the grounds people have done but they have done a great job,” said Djokovic after beating Roger Federer 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (10/12), 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Leg to differ! Djokovic autographs fan’s prosthetic

When Djokovic breezed into the Wimbledon fourth round, he was asked by a wheelchair-bound fan to autograph his prosthetic leg as he left Centre Court.

“The gentleman gave me his artificial leg ... I want to be politically correct about it,” smiled Djokovic. “I gave him my signature. I hope it will make him feel better.”

Serena chuckles after epic misjudgment

Number one seed Serena Williams won through to the second round of the French Open with a straight sets victory against Czech qualifier Andrea Hlavackova but during the fourth game of the first set made a mess of a lob. She laughed with the crowd after completely failing to connect with that return.

She cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 in just 59 minutes. So harm done.

Pregnant pause for Andy and Andy

Andy Murray saw the funny side when a US celebrity magazine accidentally captioned the British tennis star as a proud new father instead of former world number one Andy Roddick.

Roddick and his wife, actress and model Brooklyn Decker announced that they were expecting their first baby.

However, when People CelebWatch tweeted a picture of the couple, it was headlined: “Andy Murray and Brooklyn Decker Expecting First Child”.

“Not sure my wife and @andyroddick will be best pleased to find these out via Twitter! #error,” tweeted Murray.

Roddick, a former US Open winner and a three-time Wimbledon runner-up, also saw the lighter side.

“@andy_murray @BrooklynDecker ...... Murray ...... Hide,” tweeted the 32-year-old American.

Captivated — Indian jail installs cable for World Cup

Authorities at a prison in cricket-mad India installed cable television after a judge said they had to ensure inmates could watch the World Cup.

“Prisoners need recreation for a healthy mind,” Judge A. K. Goswami said as he ordered bosses at the central prison in the city of Guwahati to install cable TV.

Pakistan player hit for six by ghost sighting

A Pakistani cricketer on tour in New Zealand was hit for six when he saw what he believed was a ghost haunting him in his hotel room.

Haris Sohail was convinced a “supernatural” presence was haunting him when he awoke to find his bed moving, team manager Naveed Akram Cheema said.

Cheema said that Sohail called a member of the coaching staff who arrived to find the 26-year-old all-rounder “visibly shaken”.

Sohail, a left-arm spinner and middle-order batsman, spent the rest of the night in the coach's room at the Rydges Latimer hotel in Christchurch before being moved to another room.

A fan tweeted: “You've faced down Shaitaan [the devil], the Kiwis should be easy. Best wishes.”